Direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies are facing increased scrutiny over their privacy and data use practices, and with no federal privacy law, states are taking the lead.
California lawmakers on Monday passed what would be the most targeted privacy law to regulate direct-to-consumer testing companies, directing how they can use, sell, and share genetic information. That follows Florida, which this summer enacted a DNA privacy law blocking insurers from using test results from companies including 23andMe Inc. and Ancestry.com LLC.
These new measures may help ease privacy concerns from consumers who turn over their inherently identifiable genetic information. Without protections, attorneys ...