The Data Monetization Dilemma

Amidst these upheavals, a key question has emerged: How does 23andMe plan to achieve profitability? Wojcicki has reportedly indicated to investors that the company will shift its focus away from costly drug development programs. Instead, 23andMe aims to concentrate on marketing its vast database of customer genetic information to pharmaceutical companies and researchers.

This pivot towards data monetization raises significant ethical and privacy concerns:

• How will customer consent be managed for these new uses of their genetic data?
• What safeguards will be in place to protect individual privacy while still allowing for valuable research?