You may have heard the news that 23andMe just filed for bankruptcy, and a lot of people are wondering what this means for their data.
When a company like this goes under, everything it owns is considered an asset, including user data.
23andMe gave people a fun way to learn about their ancestry.
And while that’s great, your DNA is more than just a party trick, it’s not something that should be treated like a gimmick or sold to the highest bidder.
For years, 23andMe has had partnerships with pharmaceutical companies (initially not being very transparent about it either) , selling access to genetic data. Now that they’re in financial trouble, it raises a big question: What happens next? Who gets access to that data?
This is exactly why privacy matters when it comes to genetic testing.
Why SelfDecode is Different
A lot of people have been reaching out, asking if they should be worried. If you’ve used 23andMe, I think it’s a valid concern.
But with SelfDecode, this is something you’ll never have to worry about.
We don’t share data with pharma companies.
We don’t treat your DNA as a product.
We don’t sell data. Never have, never will.
Selling data has never been part of our business model. In fact, it’s been the complete opposite.
Since I started SelfDecode, my main “marketing” approach was to make sure everyone knows that we prioritize privacy and security above all.
We don’t rely on partnerships with pharma companies, and we don’t treat your DNA as a product to be sold.
The way we keep SelfDecode running is simple: we sell DNA kits (if you haven’t already had your DNA analyzed) and a SelfDecode membership, which gives you access to thousands of reports with personalized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations. That’s it.
Your DNA is medical data. You wouldn’t hand over your full health records to a company without knowing exactly how they’ll use it, so why should your genetic information be any different? Your DNA holds the blueprint to your health, and it deserves the same level of protection as any other sensitive medical data.
That’s why we take privacy seriously at SelfDecode. We meet the gold standard of healthcare privacy, following HIPAA guidelines, unlike 23andMe, which isn’t HIPAA compliant.
We have it in our Terms of Service that if SelfDecode ever goes bankrupt, we will automatically delete everyone’s data. No one will be able to buy it, sell it, or access it. Your genetic data should belong to you, and no one else.
Your Health, Your Data, Your Choice
Everyone should have access to their genetic information without sacrificing their privacy.
Your DNA holds valuable insights that can help you optimize your health, but that doesn’t mean you should have to hand it over to a company that might turn around and sell it.
That’s why I built SelfDecode, to give you control over your health and your data.
If you’ve uploaded your DNA to 23andMe, now is the time to download your raw data, delete your 23andMe account, and upload it to SelfDecode instead. Not only do we protect your privacy, but we also offer way more insights than 23andMe ever did.
- 1,450+ health and trait reports.
- On-demand AI health coach: Ask any health question and receive personalized answers based on your DNA, labs, lifestyle, and health goals.
- Polygenic Risk Scores (PRS) to give you the most advanced genetic risk analysis available.
- The Most Intelligent Personalized Recommendation Engine In The World: Receive tailored recommendations calculated from your symptoms, genetic risks, labs, and lifestyle factors.
- Unlimited access to Lab analyzer tool: Upload your labs and track your results.
With 23andMe, you get some ancestry data and a few vague health insights. With SelfDecode, you get real, actionable information that helps you optimize your health.
What you get out of your DNA is just as important.
SelfDecode provides the most advanced genetic insights available to help you take control of your health. With cutting-edge AI and the latest genetic research, we offer insights that are actionable and tailored to your unique DNA.
If you want to get the most out of your DNA without worrying about who has access to it, now is the time to start.
