DOWNLOAD THE FREE LiSTNR APP

What Do You Risk With At-Home DNA Test Kits?

Discovering your genetic history can be as simple as spitting into a test tube, but what happens when your data ends up in the wrong hands?

With at-home DNA test kits becoming increasingly popular throughout the 2010s, curious consumers have been able to discover previously unattainable information about of their genetic history, health predisposition and carrier status.

Dr Katie Hasson from the Centre for Genetics and Society explains the dangers of sending your DNA to genetic testing companies on today’s episode of The Briefing:

However, Dr Katie Hasson from the Centre for Genetics and society said unlike medical genetic testing, at-home DNA kits come with serious risks for consumers. 

Genetic information can be bought by marketing firms looking to develop targeted profiles for advertisements, used police investigators, or even sold on the Dark Web.

“We get the sense that you spit in the tube, and you send them $99, and you get your information back. And that’s how they’re making their money,” she said.

“But the business model all along has been about amassing a giant database of genetic information, right? That is where the value is in the data that comes from, the spit that everyone is sending them.”

To learn more about DNA testing and how genealogy was used to catch The Golden State Killer and solve a decades-old cold case, listen to this episode of Crime Insiders:

In 2023, 23andMe – one of the most popular direct-to-consumer DNA testing firms- was subject to a security breach exposing the sensitive health and genetic information of 6.9 million users, as well as other personal data including names and addresses.

RELATED:   AFL freezes ticket prices for 2025 Season

Adding to the genetic firm’s struggles, in September 2024, the entirety of the company’s board of directors resigned.

Once valued at USD $6 billion, the company’s share value has dropped 99.9% since 2021.

The hack has also significantly tarnished 23andMe’s share value and reputation, resulting in growing calls for users to delete their accounts and data.

However, it might be too late for any of 23andMe’s 15 million users to protect their genetic information.

According to 23andMe’s privacy policy: “If we are involved in a bankruptcy, merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, your Personal Information may be accessed, sold or transferred as part of that transaction.”

“We may also disclose Personal Information about you to our corporate affiliates to help operate our services and our affiliates’ services,” the policy reads.

Dr Hasson said there is a real danger users’ personal data will be sold off to third parties. 

“We need to think really carefully about the commercialization of genetic testing and the collection of genetic data,” said Dr Hasson.

“If we are going to allow this, we need stronger regulations in place that really do hold companies to account for how they can and cannot use your data.”

By Ashleigh Wyss, a Master of Journalism student at the University of Melbourne.

Subscribe to The Briefing, Australia’s fastest-growing news podcast on LiSTNR today. The Briefing serves up the latest news and deep dives on topics affecting you, all in under 20 minutes.