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openSNP Shutters Over Privacy and Authoritarianism Concerns

OpenSNP, a long-running open-source genetic data platform, is shutting down after citing growing concerns over data privacy, the misuse of genetic information by law enforcement, and the rise of authoritarian governments. The decision comes as 23andMe, a major source of user-submitted genetic data for openSNP, faces bankruptcy and a potential selloff of user data.

Founded in 2011, openSNP allowed users to upload genetic data from services like 23andMe to make it freely available for scientific research.

Co-founder Bastian Greshake Tzovaras said the closure was triggered in part by the collapse of 23andMe and the broader political climate. Speaking to TechCrunch, he stated: “The risk/benefit calculus of providing free and open access to individual genetic data in 2025 is very different compared to 14 years ago.”

The database has collected roughly 7,500 genomes and supported academic work across biomedical research, information security, and more. But its founder now questions the ethical viability of such openness. Tzovaras stated on his official blog: “The largest use case for DTC genetic data was not biomedical research or research in big pharma. Instead, the transformative impact of the data came to fruition among law enforcement agencies, who have put the genealogical properties of genetic data to use.”

Tzovaras went on to express concerns about DNA phenotyping, a controversial and dubious practice that claims to create physical profiles from DNA. “That’s something we don’t want to see in the world,” he said, citing a startup that once approached openSNP looking for help in developing a DNA phenotyping product for police use.

Despite the project's contribution to academic research, Tzovaras now calls his early hopes “naive.” He believes the biggest impact on public health comes not from genomic research but from ensuring access to food and housing.

The shutdown of openSNP is scheduled for April 30, with all data set to be deleted permanently.

In 2023, Choice DNA, a US genetic testing firm, exposed over 350,000 sensitive files in a data breach, underscoring how fragile genetic data privacy really is.



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