A significant settlement has been given the green light in a class action lawsuit involving Canadian clients of the genetic testing provider 23andMe who were impacted by a previous data breach. The approved settlement will allocate $3.25 million USD to individuals in Canada affected by the breach, where hackers accessed customers’ data, including Canadians, in 2023.
Sage Nematollahi, an attorney from Toronto’s KND Complex Litigation who acted as class counsel, expressed satisfaction with the outcome for the affected Canadian clients. The U.S.-based 23andMe filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy the previous year, citing intentions to use the process to resolve remaining obligations stemming from the 2023 data breach.
Following the bankruptcy filing, the non-profit TTAM Research Institute acquired 23andMe’s assets for $305 million USD, as reported by The Associated Press. Nematollahi highlighted the significance of the settlement, stating that it is believed to set a precedent as the first Canadian class action claim settled within a Chapter 11 insolvency proceeding.
The settlement funds are accessible to any individual who was a 23andMe customer between May 1, 2023, and October 1, 2023, resided in Canada during the breach, received notification of being affected, and did not choose to opt out of the settlement. Victims wishing to file a claim for compensation must do so by June 25, 2026, 11:59 p.m. PT. Detailed instructions on how to submit a claim form can be found on the Canadian settlement website.
