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by skummetmaelk 934 days ago

I can think of an easy model. Disallow collection of personal information. Pull the rug out from under "services" which are really just data collection fronts turning a profit from selling your data instead of the primary service/good for money transaction.

23andMe could still have operated legally under this scheme. They could have done the analysis and sent you a printed sheet. But no, they had to store everything to be able to double dip by selling the data to pharma companies and whoever else would pay for it.

If you can't turn a profit without underhandedly selling your users' data. You deserve to fail.

4 comments

maxerickson 934 days ago

They are frank about also selling the data for research, it is not underhanded. It's even opt in...

For example, they talk about it on this page, which is linked from the about menu (so available with pretty small effort): https://www.23andme.com/research/

I expect lots of people also like that they get updates when information about new markers becomes available.

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sonicanatidae 934 days ago

I trust them to opt me out, not at all. It's safer to just assume your data is being used, regardless, because it's free money to them. If/when they get caught selling data marked as Opted Out, they'll get a pittance fine, paid with other people's money and bonuses for making numbers that quarter.

You're welcome to trust them, but no I.

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joshuahedlund 934 days ago

> They could have done the analysis and sent you a printed sheet.

Could they tho? The ancestry analysis itself is based on the data of other users in other parts of the world?

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stef25 934 days ago

> Disallow collection of personal information

It's all about the money, always. So not gonna happen.

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mewpmewp2 934 days ago

What about people who would want to donate their data to further the research?