23andMe frantically changed its terms of service to prevent hacked customers from suing
23andMe frantically changed its terms of service to prevent hacked customers from suing
In an email sent to customers earlier this week viewed by Engadget, the company announced that it had made updates to the “Dispute Resolution and Arbitration section” of its terms of service that would prevent customers from filing class action lawsuits.
Edit: added Axios link, removed double quote for Axios paragraphs
Forbidding people from filing class action lawsuit, as Axios notes, hides information about the proceedings from the public since affected parties typically attempt to resolve disputes with arbitrators in private. Experts, such as Chicago-Kent College of Law professor Nancy Kim, an online contractor expert, told Axios that changing its terms wouldn’t be enough to protect 23andMe in court.
https://www.axios.com/2023/12/07/23andme-terms-of-service-update-data-breach
The company did not publicly reveal the full extent of the breach until around two months after it occurred.
The latest: At least two law firms are pursuing a class action against 23andMe.
Canada-based law firms YLaw and KND Complex Litigation have proposed a class-action lawsuit against the company in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.
Of note: In emails notifying customers of the terms of service change, the company has said people are able to opt out if they email "[email protected]" within 30 days of receiving the notice.
However, the updated terms of service requires customers to email a different address, "[email protected]."
Trump: they can do that?!?