The agreement states that participation in sharing features, including DNA Relatives and Your Connections, is a voluntary user election rather than a default setting.
This analysis describes what 23andMe's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
This provision establishes that genetic relationship data disclosed through features such as DNA Relatives is shared only upon affirmative user participation, which has implications for the genetic privacy of both the opting-in user and any biological relatives whose identities may be inferred from shared genetic data.
Interpretive note: The document does not describe the specific data elements shared through DNA Relatives and Your Connections, the scope of visibility between matched users, or the privacy protections applied to biological relatives who are not 23andMe account holders.
Under this provision, users must affirmatively opt into sharing features such as DNA Relatives and Your Connections; these features are not enabled by default. Participation in these features may result in genetic relationship information being visible to or matched with other 23andMe users who are biological relatives.
Cross-platform context
See how other platforms handle DNA Relatives and Sharing Features Opt-In and similar clauses.
Compare across platforms →"You decide whether you want to participate in our sharing features, like DNA Relatives and Your Connections.Excerpt from 23andMe's Privacy Statement
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages genetic privacy frameworks including California GIPA, GDPR Article 9 (genetic data as special category), and UK GDPR.
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This provision establishes that genetic relationship data disclosed through features such as DNA Relatives is shared only upon affirmative user participation, which has implications for the genetic privacy of both the opting-in user and any biological relatives whose identities may be inferred from shared genetic data.
Under this provision, users must affirmatively opt into sharing features such as DNA Relatives and Your Connections; these features are not enabled by default. Participation in these features may result in genetic relationship information being visible to or matched with other 23andMe users who are biological relatives.
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