Theresa Payton on 23andMe Data Risks and Signal App Security

23andMe Data and Bankruptcy Risks

• ⚠️ 23andMe's bankruptcy filing raises concerns about the sale of private DNA and genetic information.
• 💡 The California Attorney General has advised users to delete their data, highlighting a lack of protections for residents.
• 🔒 If genetic data is sold and matched with personal information, it could lead to a digital walk-in on one's life, making it nearly impossible to remove.
• 📈 This data could also be used in algorithms to make decisions about insurance, with unknown consequences.
• 🔑 Users who signed up for services may have unknowingly given away their rights to their data in bankruptcy proceedings.

Options for Data Deletion

• 📧 For users trying to delete their information, two email addresses are available: customer [email protected] and [email protected].
• 📞 A digital paper trail can be created by emailing or calling the company.
• 🙏 Practicing grace and patience with customer service representatives is recommended during this process.

The Promise and Peril of Genetic Data

• 🧬 Many users were drawn to genetic testing for the promise of finding relatives and unlocking personalized healthcare.
• 🌱 The hope was to understand genetic predispositions to diseases and enable future treatments.
• 💔 Sadly, the current situation suggests this promise has not ended well for many users.

Signal App Security Concerns

• 🗣️ The use of the Signal app by administration officials for discussing military plans, like the bombing of Houthi rebels, raises security questions.
• 🚫 While the administration stated no classified data was on Signal, classified communications are typically clunky by design.
• 💻 There's a need for more seamless and elegant ways for officials to collaborate on classified communications in 2025.
• 🎓 Officials receive rigorous training on classified communications, and if unsure, they should ask for clarification.
• 💣 It's hard to imagine conversations about dropping bombs not involving classified information, underscoring the need for secure communication methods.