All 23andMe DNA test packages steeply discounted, ends 11/25

[gorobei]

Couldn't they just remove the identifying information so it's just a blob of useful real world data for science and research?

it probably doesnt work unless everyone(everywhere) is disassociated. 23&m may be shutting down, but they can sell their annonymized data to one of the other gene-test/cataloging companies and all it takes is a cousin who is a client in their db to link up a name.
whether someone will do the detective work to tie the all the online identity data available to a gene profile is the question. some google/facebook/etc may have already done all the work and it becomes a simple db deal with whoever buys the 23 data.

 

[Brainonska511]

Couldn't they just remove the identifying information so it's just a blob of useful real world data for science and research?

De-identifying doesn't remove the risk of re-identification using the data by matching it with other databases.

 

[BoomerD]

Couldn't they just remove the identifying information so it's just a blob of useful real world data for science and research?

They COULD, but that would reduce its potential value.

 

[Oyeve]

I opted to have all my data deleted. They probably won't but screw it. I already have Ancestry DNA info and it was more accurate than 23 and me.