DNA Testing Company Ceases Operations, Customer Data Fate Unknown

A company specializing in DNA testing seems to have stopped operating, reportedly without informing its clients about the fate of the extremely sensitive information they provided. Atlas Biomed, with its London offices, previously offered services to reveal individuals’ genetic composition and their susceptibility to particular diseases. Nevertheless, customers can no longer access their customized reports via the internet, and the company has not replied to inquiries from the BBC seeking a statement. Clients of the business characterize the circumstances as “very alarming” and demand explanations regarding the whereabouts of their “most personal information.” The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the regulatory body, has verified that it has received a formal complaint concerning Atlas Biomed. “People have the right to expect that organisations will handle their personal information securely and responsibly,” the ICO stated in an official announcement. According to specialists, this incident illustrates how individuals utilizing DNA-testing services can become “completely at the mercy” of these companies concerning the safeguarding of highly sensitive data. Lisa Topping, a resident of Saffron Walden, Essex, submitted a saliva sample to Atlas Biomed some years ago, spending approximately £100 for a tailored genetic report. In addition to detailing her DNA profile, the service purported to inform her about her susceptibility to illnesses and even injuries, incorporating data she had supplied in an associated questionnaire. She was able to view her report online – which she reviewed periodically – until the website vanished without warning. Her attempts to contact them for an explanation received no response. “I don’t know what someone else could do with [the data] but it’s the most personal information… I don’t know how comfortable I feel that they have just disappeared,” Lisa stated. In 2023, Kate Lake, residing in Tonbridge, Kent, paid Atlas Biomed £139 for a report that was never provided. The company assured her a refund but subsequently became unreachable, despite her exhaustive efforts to establish contact. “I just never heard back from anyone, it’s like no-one was at home,” she commented. She characterized the circumstances as “very alarming.” “What happens now to that information they have got? I would like to hear some answers,” she added. The BBC also failed to establish communication with Atlas Biomed. A telephone number associated with the company is no longer active. The BBC visited its London offices, yet found no indication of Atlas Biomed’s presence. The company’s Instagram profile, boasting more than 11,000 followers, received its last update in March 2022. Its ultimate post on X occurred in August of the same year. A post was shared on Facebook in June 2023, but no replies were given to any comments – which predominantly consisted of users expressing difficulty in contacting the company or accessing their accounts. The seeming vanishing of Atlas Biomed remains unexplained, though it seemingly has connections to Russia. It continues to be registered as an active entity with Companies House, the mandatory registration body for all UK-based enterprises. Nevertheless, it has not submitted any financial statements since December 2022. The company records eight official roles, although four of its executives have stepped down. Two of the seemingly current officers are registered at an identical address in Moscow, as is a Russian billionaire identified as a former director. The official registered address for Atlas Biomed is situated close to London’s area known as Silicon Roundabout, a prominent hub for technology companies in the UK. During the BBC’s visit, Atlas Biomed itself was not present, but a company registration service located within the building verified that Atlas Biomed was a client and legitimately utilized that address. This registration firm, via email, stated that it was unable to connect the BBC with Atlas Biomed “for security purposes.” It advised, “We highly suggest that you contact them directly.” No representative from Atlas Biomed has replied to the BBC’s efforts to reach out. Cybersecurity specialist Prof Alan Woodward commented that the visible connections to Russia were “odd.” He informed the BBC, “If people knew the provenance of this company and how it operates they might not be quite so ready to trust them with their DNA.” These circumstances do not clarify the ultimate location of Atlas Biomed’s customer DNA database, and the BBC has observed no indication of its misuse. However, Prof Carissa Veliz, author of Privacy is Power, highlights that DNA is arguably the most precious personal data an individual possesses. It is distinctively yours, unalterable, and discloses your – and consequently, your family’s – biological advantages and vulnerabilities. Biometric information receives specific safeguards under the UK’s iteration of GDPR, the data protection legislation. “When you give your data to a company you are completely at their mercy and you have to be able to trust them,” Prof Veliz stated. “We shouldn’t have to wait until something happens.” Further reporting by Graham Fraser. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.