If you opt into the Research program, 23andMe may share your de-identified genetic and health data with third-party researchers, including pharmaceutical and biotech companies, to conduct studies on disease and drug development.
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
The provision establishes the operational scope of data utilization beyond individual health reporting, creating a revenue model dependent on research data licensing. This authorization distinguishes 23andMe's business model from ancestry-focused services and structures user data as a resource for pharmaceutical development pipelines.
The updated privacy statement no longer explicitly directs users to a separate Medical Record Privacy Notice for telehealth services or explains that medical information collected through telehealth is governed by different privacy rules. Previously, the policy stated that users choosing telehealth services coordinated through 23andMe would find healthcare privacy protections described in a separate notice. That reference is now absent from the main privacy statement. Users seeking privacy information specific to telehealth services will need to determine independently whether a separate notice exists or contact 23andMe directly using the provided contact information.
View change record →The updated privacy statement no longer explicitly discloses a separate Medical Record Privacy Notice that previously described how medical information is used, disclosed, and maintained for telehealth services. Users who receive telehealth services coordinated through 23andMe may now lack clear notice of which privacy framework governs their medical records, since the reference to that parallel notice has been removed. The organizational scope change from '23andMe Research Institute' to '23andMe' narrows the explicitly named entities responsible for the policy, though operational impact depends on how these entities actually function.
View change record →The removal of this high-severity provision regarding pharmaceutical data sharing represents a significant change in transparency about third-party research commercialization, though content may be integrated into other provisions.
View full change record →Consumers who opt into Research may have their genetic data used in commercial pharmaceutical research, with potential financial benefits accruing to 23andMe and its partners rather than to the consumer. This consent is separate from the main service and can be withdrawn at any time through account settings.
How other platforms handle this
We may share individual user information with companies, organizations or individuals outside of Google when we have parental consent.
We may share your personal information with our affiliates, meaning entities that control, are controlled by, or are under common control with Consensys. We also share information with service providers who assist in operating our services, subject to confidentiality obligations.
At Ledger, earning and maintaining our users' trust is a top priority. That's why we are deeply committed not only to protecting your privacy and securing your personal data, but also to being fully transparent about how we handle it.
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23andMe has changed this document before.
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The Research consent program implicates CCPA's 'sale' and 'sharing' definitions, GDPR Article 9 special category data requirements, and FTC oversight of data broker-adjacent practices; compliance teams should evaluate whether research data sharing constitutes a 'sale' under applicable state privacy laws.
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The provision establishes the operational scope of data utilization beyond individual health reporting, creating a revenue model dependent on research data licensing. This authorization distinguishes 23andMe's business model from ancestry-focused services and structures user data as a resource for pharmaceutical development pipelines.
Consumers who opt into Research may have their genetic data used in commercial pharmaceutical research, with potential financial benefits accruing to 23andMe and its partners rather than to the consumer. This consent is separate from the main service and can be withdrawn at any time through account settings.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by 23andMe.