Alabama lawmaker proposes stricter consumer protections from DNA, genetic testing companies

State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island) announced he has pre-filed legislation designed to protect the personal data of consumers who provide DNA samples to companies in return for information on their ancestry, ethnicity, family health genetics, and other areas. The legislation would require a genetic testing company, such as Ancestry and 23andMe, to obtain the consumer’s express consent to use the sample and data to fulfill the consumer’s order and store the sample and data. Consumer Reports produced a scathing review of direct to consumer genetic testing services that warned of privacy