In a disturbing development that raises serious concerns about personal data security, Atlas Biomed, a London-based DNA testing company with alleged Russian connections, has mysteriously ceased operations, taking with it the highly sensitive genetic information of thousands of customers, according to a recent BBC investigation.
The disappearing act
The company, which specializes in providing detailed genetic analysis and health predisposition reports, has effectively gone dark. Its website is now defunct, phone lines are dead, and its once-active Instagram account, boasting over 11,000 followers, has been dormant since March 2022.
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), Britain’s data protection watchdog, has acknowledged the situation. “People have the right to expect that organizations will handle their personal information securely and responsibly,” the ICO stated, confirming they have received formal complaints about the company’s disappearance.
Customer concerns mount
The gravity of the situation is reflected in mounting customer complaints. One customer’s social media comment encapsulates the widespread frustration: “DO NOT ORDER – SCAM ALERT. They have not been active since June 2023. I ordered and sent off samples in July and still nothing, and have since found numerous accounts of people with the same issue. Their email address no longer works. No way to contact them.”
Lisa Topping, a resident of Saffron Walden, Essex, who paid $130 for genetic testing services, expressed her concerns to reporters. Despite initially receiving her DNA profile and health predisposition report, she can no longer access her data online. “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,” she said.
The Moscow connection
Despite its prestigious London address near Silicon Roundabout, a hub for tech companies, Atlas Biomed’s Russian connections have come under scrutiny. The company’s latest filing with Companies House, Britain’s business registry, reveals intriguing details:
- No financial accounts have been filed since December 2022
- Of eight official positions, four have resigned
- Two remaining officers list their address in Moscow
- A Russian billionaire, previously a director, shares the same Moscow address
Data security concerns
While there is currently no evidence of misuse of the genetic database, the disappearance of such sensitive biometric information raises serious security concerns. The company’s customer database contains detailed genetic profiles and health predisposition data of an unknown number of individuals.
Looking ahead
The case highlights the growing concerns about data security in the burgeoning genetic testing industry and raises questions about the need for stricter regulations governing companies handling sensitive biological data.
As investigations continue, customers like Topping are left wondering about the fate of their most personal information while authorities grapple with the implications of this unprecedented situation.