Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and Gary Peters have introduced the Genomic Data Protection Act, a legislative proposal aimed at granting Americans greater control over their genomic data obtained through at-home DNA tests. This bill addresses concerns about privacy and national security risks associated with the handling of genetic information by direct-to-consumer genomic testing companies.

Senator Cassidy emphasized the importance of data privacy for individuals using these services, stating, “Americans want to know what happens to their data after an at-home DNA test. Let’s give them control over their own genomic data. It should be private if they want it to be.”

Senator Peters highlighted the rights of citizens in managing their health and genetic information: “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, states such as Arizona, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming have implemented consumer protections regarding genomic data held by these companies. However, there is no overarching federal regulation ensuring privacy for this sensitive information.

The proposed legislation would assign enforcement responsibilities to the Federal Trade Commission under the Genomic Privacy Protection Act.