A substantial settlement has been given the green light in a class action lawsuit concerning Canadian clients of the genetic testing firm 23andMe who were impacted by a previous data breach. The settlement, totaling $3.25 million US, is set to benefit individuals in Canada affected by the breach, which occurred in 2023 and allowed hackers to access customers’ data, including those in Canada.
Sage Nematollahi, a legal representative at Toronto’s KND Complex Litigation who acted as class counsel, expressed satisfaction with the outcome for the affected Canadian customers. The U.S.-based 23andMe declared bankruptcy under Chapter 11 last year, aiming to address outstanding liabilities stemming from the 2023 data breach.
Following this, the non-profit organization TTAM Research Institute acquired 23andMe’s assets for $305 million US, as reported by The Associated Press. Nematollahi noted that this settlement is thought to establish a precedent, being the first instance of a Canadian class action claim being resolved within a Chapter 11 insolvency process.
The settlement funds are accessible to any individual who was a 23andMe customer between May 1, 2023, and October 1, 2023, residing in Canada at the time of the breach, received notification of being affected, and did not opt out of the settlement. Claim submissions for compensation must be made by 11:59 p.m. PT on June 25, 2026. Detailed instructions for filing a claim form can be found on the Canadian settlement website.