OpenSNP Bids Adieu: Privacy Concerns Shut Down Genetic Data Platform
OpenSNP, the platform for sharing genetic and phenotypic data, will shut down on April 30, 2025, over privacy concerns. Co-founder Bastian Greshake Tzovaras fears misuse by authoritarian governments and believes deleting user submissions is the responsible choice in today’s climate. Get your data downloaded before it goes poof!
Hot Take:
Well, folks, it seems the openSNP project is about to pull a Houdini. After 14 years of democratizing genetic data, they’re now vanishing into the ether by April 30, 2025. All because the world is becoming a scarier place for personal genomics data, and, apparently, authoritarian regimes aren’t what they used to be. Who knew?!
Key Points:
- openSNP, a platform for sharing genetic and phenotypic data, is shutting down due to privacy concerns.
- The decision is driven by the fear of data misuse, particularly by authoritarian governments.
- Initially aimed at democratizing genetic knowledge, openSNP has been a major resource in research and education.
- With 23andMe’s bankruptcy, the data flow to openSNP has dried up, prompting further concerns.
- Users have until April 30, 2025, to download their data before it disappears into the digital void.
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