• The company retains broad rights to use customer data for research and commercial purposes, subject to consent.

These clauses effectively mean that in the event of a sale or major restructuring, customer genetic data could be transferred to new ownership with potentially different priorities or ethical standards.

The Research Dilemma

A significant portion of 23andMe's value proposition to both customers and potential investors lies in its research capabilities. The company reports that approximately 80% of its customers - roughly 12 million people - have consented to participate in its research program.