23ANDME TO PAY $47M OVER 2023 DATA BREACH

A judge has approved a $47 million settlement for victims of a 2023 data breach at 23andMe, the genetic testing company. The breach exposed genetic profiles and personal information of users who had taken DNA tests through the service. 23andMe faced substantial criticism following disclosure of the incident. The settlement resolves claims brought by affected users against the company.

23andMe compiles genetic profiles of people through DNA testing kits supplied to customers. The 2023 hack compromised the data of a significant number of users, according to reports at the time. The company operates in the direct-to-consumer genetic testing sector, which has expanded substantially over recent years. Users of such services provide DNA samples that the company analyses to generate health and ancestry information.

The judge's approval of the settlement means eligible victims can now pursue compensation claims. The exact payment per individual will depend on the number of valid claims submitted. 23andMe has not made a formal statement regarding the ruling as of the latest reports. The settlement represents one of the largest payouts in the genetic testing industry following a data security incident.