Participation in features like DNA Relatives, which connects you with genetic relatives identified in the 23andMe database, is optional and user-controlled.
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
Participating in DNA Relatives discloses your genetic relationship to other users and may reveal family information to people you did not previously know, including information about relatives who have not themselves consented to be identified.
This addition explicitly separates DNA sharing feature participation from other provisions, emphasizing user control over secondary data uses like relative matching.
View full change record →The terms authorize users to opt into features that share genetic relationship data with other matched users, which may surface family connections, including unexpected ones such as previously unknown relatives or donor-conceived relationships, and this sharing is within user control but affects individuals beyond the consenting user.
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We will also provide an individual opt-out choice, or opt-in for sensitive data, before we share your data with third parties other than our agents, or before we use it for a purpose other than which it was originally collected.
If you choose to reveal any personal information about yourself to other users, you do so at your own risk. We strongly encourage you to use caution in disclosing any personal information online.
"You decide whether you want to participate in our sharing features, like DNA Relatives and Your Connections.Excerpt from 23andMe's Privacy Statement
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: DNA Relatives and similar features involve sharing genetic relationship information with third-party users, which engages state genetic privacy laws and GDPR provisions on the rights of data subjects who are identified as a …
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Participating in DNA Relatives discloses your genetic relationship to other users and may reveal family information to people you did not previously know, including information about relatives who have not themselves consented to be identified.
The terms authorize users to opt into features that share genetic relationship data with other matched users, which may surface family connections, including unexpected ones such as previously unknown relatives or donor-conceived relationships, and this sharing is within user control but affects individuals beyond the consenting user.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 289 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by 23andMe.