Atlas Biomed Ceases Operations, Leaving Client Genetic Data Inaccessible

Atlas Biomed, a DNA testing company, has abruptly ceased operations. Clients cannot access their genetic data or learn the fate of their information. Writing in MalwareBytes, Pieter Arntz notes that their situation highlights significant concerns about the security and ethical handling of genetic data, especially as investigations suggest ties to Russian entities.

The company’s website and social media have gone inactive, and attempts to contact it have failed. Unlike some competitors, test results were accessible only online from Atlas Biomed, and customers could not download or securely store their data.

The sudden disappearance leaves many clients in limbo, uncertain of the whereabouts or security of their sensitive genetic information. Adding to the concern, four of eight company officers have resigned, while two remaining executives are reportedly linked to a Moscow address associated with a Russian billionaire.

No formal court case has been adjudicated, but the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has received complaints and issued warnings emphasizing that organizations must handle personal information securely. In this case, regulatory oversight will likely focus on determining compliance with privacy laws and investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duty.

DNA testing sites have become commonplace. People often participate without understanding the implications. For some, it is the only way to discover if they are susceptible to congenital disease.

No misuse of the missing data has been confirmed, but the potential risks are troubling, particularly in light of past incidents involving genetic testing companies.

In 2018, MyHeritage was hacked, and the email addresses and passwords of 92 million users were stolen. In 2020, Ancestry was acquired by investment firm Blackstone for $4.7 billion. The transaction raised questions about the potential commercialization of genetic data and its transfer to new owners.