Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Gary Peters have introduced the Genomic Data Protection Act, aiming to provide Americans using at-home DNA tests with the option to delete their genomic data and destroy biological samples. Currently, about 21% of Americans have used mail-in DNA tests from Direct-to-Consumer Genomic Testing Companies. The absence of privacy protections raises concerns about potential data sales, posing risks to consumers and national security if adversarial entities obtain this information.

"Americans should know what happens to their personal health data after an at-home DNA test," stated Dr. Cassidy. "We need federal guidelines to make sure their rights are protected. Specifically, Americans should control their own genomic privacy."

Senator Peters added, "American citizens should have the right to control how their unique health and genetic information is being used and stored. This bill would give consumers the power to access their personal genomic data, delete it from a company’s platform, and ultimately destroy it if they choose."

Currently, ten states including Arizona, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming have enacted consumer protections concerning genomic data held by these companies. However, there is no federal framework allowing Americans to safeguard the privacy of their personal genomic data. The proposed legislation assigns enforcement responsibilities for the Genomic Privacy Protection Act to the Federal Trade Commission.