In a fiery exchange during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) vehemently criticized Joseph Selsavage, the Interim CEO and CFO of ancestry service 23andMe, for the company’s opaque practices regarding the retention of consumer data, particularly in light of its impending bankruptcy sale.
Senator Hawley did not mince words, telling Selsavage, “I hope [consumers] will rush to the courthouse, even as we are here today, to sue you into oblivion.”
The senator’s condemnation came after Selsavage struggled to provide a clear explanation for 23andMe’s convoluted privacy policy. Under intense questioning, the CEO ultimately conceded that 23andMe does, in fact, retain customers’ personal information even after individuals have opted to delete it.
READ: Regeneron To Acquire 23andMe In Bankruptcy Sale, Sparking Data Privacy Concerns
“What you’re doing here has all kinds of implications—national security implications, all of it—but nothing is worse than taking the personal, identifiable information of American consumers and keeping it, and lying to them about it, while you make a huge profit off of it,” Senator Hawley asserted, highlighting the gravity of the company’s data handling practices.
Throughout the exchange, Senator Hawley repeatedly admonished Selsavage for frequently deferring to his legal counsel, stating pointedly, “Don’t talk to your suit behind you. Talk to me.”
The senator’s frustration underscored concerns about transparency and accountability from 23andMe’s leadership as the company navigates its financial difficulties.
READ: Florida Attorney General Issues Alert Following 23andMe Bankruptcy Filing
The hearing brought to light serious questions about the ethical and legal implications of companies retaining sensitive personal data, especially in the context of a bankruptcy where assets, including data, could be subject to sale.
Consumers who have entrusted their genetic and personal information to 23andMe may now face significant uncertainty about the future of their data.
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