A settlement worth millions has been granted in a class action lawsuit involving Canadian customers of the genetics testing company 23andMe who were impacted by a previous data breach. The approved settlement will allocate $3.25 million US to individuals in Canada affected by the breach, where hackers accessed customers’ data, including Canadians, in 2023.
Sage Nematollahi, a lawyer from KND Complex Litigation in Toronto who acted as class counsel, expressed satisfaction with the outcome for the affected Canadian customers. The U.S.-based company 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year to address remaining liabilities stemming from the 2023 data breach.
Following the bankruptcy, the non-profit TTAM Research Institute acquired 23andMe’s assets for $305 million US, as reported by The Associated Press. Nematollahi highlighted the significance of the settlement in the context of a Chapter 11 insolvency proceeding, noting it as a pioneering move for Canadian class action claims.
The settlement funds are available to individuals who were 23andMe customers between May 1, 2023, and October 1, 2023, residing in Canada at the time of the breach, and who were notified of their affected status and did not opt out of the settlement. Victims seeking compensation must submit their claims by June 25, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Detailed instructions for claim submission are accessible on the Canadian settlement website.