As I get it, it's a federal requirement for a lab to keep genetic data for a while with no way for the specimen to do anything about it.
So, it's a CDC thing, not exactly 23AndMe fault. Save for the fact that 23AndMe advertised it's easy to delete data on their front page, but with the small print somewhere out there that you can't really delete the actual data. To be entirely fair, it was there somewhere (I think in their help center in some article about data deletion process) when I went to check out their privacy policies - because that's how I learned about it and reconsidered buying a test, but I guess most people don't read the small print until the deed is done.
My understanding is that they will delete your data on their side (leaving only a few things like payment receipts), but the lab won't because they legally can't.
Assuming for a second these federal requirements cited are a) valid, and b) for a good reason, it still says right there in the response that it's not just the lab, sadly.
For example, your Genetic Information, date of birth, and
sex will be retained by 23andMe
So, it's a CDC thing, not exactly 23AndMe fault. Save for the fact that 23AndMe advertised it's easy to delete data on their front page, but with the small print somewhere out there that you can't really delete the actual data. To be entirely fair, it was there somewhere (I think in their help center in some article about data deletion process) when I went to check out their privacy policies - because that's how I learned about it and reconsidered buying a test, but I guess most people don't read the small print until the deed is done.
My understanding is that they will delete your data on their side (leaving only a few things like payment receipts), but the lab won't because they legally can't.