23andMe can change its terms at any time, and non-material changes take effect immediately upon posting. For material changes, the company says it will notify you by website notice or email. Continuing to use the service after changes means you have accepted the new terms.
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 the mechanism by which 23andMe retains ongoing authority to alter contractual obligations without requiring affirmative user consent before changes take effect. The operational significance is that the agreement terms governing the service relationship are non-static and subject to modification at the entity's discretion.
Interpretive note: Whether a website posting or email constitutes adequate notice of material changes to satisfy consumer protection requirements in each served jurisdiction is uncertain and jurisdiction-dependent.
If 23andMe updates its terms in ways that affect how your genetic data is used, continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of those new terms. The notification mechanism for material changes, which includes a website notice as a sufficient method, may not guarantee you will see changes before they take effect.
How other platforms handle this
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Microsoft reserves the right to restrict the export of data that may compromise the security of the services or Microsoft's intellectual property.
"Each of these terms and conditions may be changed from time to time. Once we post changes on the Services, they are effective immediately. 23andMe may make changes to the Terms in the future. If we make a material change to the Terms, we will notify you, such as posting a notice on our website or sending a message to the email address associated with your account. By continuing to access or use the Services, you agree to be bound by the revised Terms.Excerpt from 23andMe's Terms of Service
(1) REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The mechanism of treating continued service use as acceptance of amended terms is a standard industry practice, but its adequacy under consumer protection law varies by jurisdiction.
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This provision establishes the mechanism by which 23andMe retains ongoing authority to alter contractual obligations without requiring affirmative user consent before changes take effect. The operational significance is that the agreement terms governing the service relationship are non-static and subject to modification at the entity's discretion.
If 23andMe updates its terms in ways that affect how your genetic data is used, continued use of the service constitutes acceptance of those new terms. The notification mechanism for material changes, which includes a website notice as a sufficient method, may not guarantee you will see changes before they take effect.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 263 platforms. See the full comparison.
No. ConductAtlas is an independent monitoring service. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by 23andMe.