23andMe/ZDNETI was an early 23andMe user. While I knew a good deal about my family history — primarily Scottish-Irish who came to the US in the aftermath of the 1845-52 Irish potato famine — I wanted to know more. At first, 23andMe was useful, but now it’s another story. Once a genetic testing trailblazer, 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. This came after years of financial instability, operational missteps, and growing concerns over customer data privacy. The company’s collapse raises serious questions about the future of its vast troves of genetic data collected from more than 15 million customers, including my own records. We have no idea what will become of our records — and that’s not a comfortable feeling. Also: The best secure browsers for privacy: Expert testedFounded nearly two decades ago, 23andMe gained popularity by offering at-home DNA testing kits that provided insights into ancestry, genetic traits, and potential health risks. At its peak in 2021, the company’s market valuation exceeded $6 billion. However, in recent years, it’s been declining rapidly. The company’s attempted pivot into pharmaceutical research and drug development partnerships, including a high-profile collaboration with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), never met expectations. This, in turn, led to declines in revenue,The company’s reputation also never recovered from the hit it took when a major data breach in October 2023 exposed user data for about half its users. The result? The company value, which hovered above $6 billion in 2021 after its IPO, was trading for less than $50 million last week before the bankruptcy filing with losses in its current fiscal year of $174 million. More