Kansas to Receive More Than $225,000 in 23andMe Data Breach Settlement

Kansas will receive more than $225,000 as part of a multistate settlement with the genetic testing company 23andMe over a data breach, Attorney General Kris Kobach announced in July.

The breach exposed personal information belonging to more than 51,000 Kansans, according to the attorney general's office. The settlement resolves claims brought by a coalition of states that investigated the company's handling of sensitive genetic and personal data.

Consumer protection officials used the announcement to remind residents to use strong, unique passwords, enable multifactor authentication, and be cautious about sharing genetic and other sensitive information with online services. Data involving DNA and family health history, they noted, cannot be changed the way a compromised password can.

The case is part of a growing wave of state-led enforcement actions targeting how technology and testing companies collect, store, and protect consumer data.