23andMe, Inc. – €2,700,000 Fine (United Kingdom, 2025)
General GDPR enforcement action
This case relates to broader data protection obligations, not specifically to cookie or consent banner compliance. It is not included in cookie statistics or the Risk Calculator.
23andMe, Inc. was fined £2,310,000 for not protecting user data properly, which led to a cyberattack affecting over 155,000 users in the UK. This matters because it shows the importance of data security, especially for sensitive information like DNA. Companies need to take stronger measures to protect personal data from breaches.
What happened
23andMe, Inc. failed to implement adequate security measures, resulting in a data breach due to a cyberattack.
Who was affected
155,592 users in the UK whose personal data was compromised during the breach.
What the authority found
The Information Commissioner's Office found that 23andMe did not take sufficient steps to secure personal data, violating GDPR's requirements for data security.
Why this matters
This case highlights the need for companies to prioritize data security to prevent breaches. It sets a precedent that companies can face significant fines for failing to protect sensitive user information.
GDPR Articles Cited
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The UK DPA imposed a fine of £ 2,310,000 (EUR 2,700,000) on 23andMe, Inc. The controller, a company offering DNA testing to private individuals, failed to implement sufficient technical and organizational measures to ensure data security, especially in regards to the sensitivity of the processed data. As a result, a cyberattack occurred, which led to a data breach affecting 155,592 UK-based users over the course of at least five months. The DPA considered the controller's failure to identify the attack earlier and its failure to adequately inform the DPA about the breach as aggravating factors.
Related Enforcement Actions (0)
No other enforcement actions found for 23andMe, Inc. in UK
This is the only recorded action for this entity in this jurisdiction.
Details
Fine Date
5 June 2025
Authority
Information Commissioner's Office
Fine Amount
€2,700,000
Enforcement Tracker ID
ETid-2656
About this data
Cite as: Cookie Fines. 23andMe, Inc. - United Kingdom (2025). Retrieved from cookiefines.eu
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