The genetic testing site, which recently admitted hackers accessed the data of 6.9 million users, has begun notifying users of a change to its terms of service that’s meant to “streamline arbitration proceedings where multiple similar claims are filed.”
While the terms of service already included binding arbitration and a class action waiver, Ars Technica spotted that the new terms omit a clause that said users could go to federal or state court to “adjudicate the party’s claim or prayer for ‘public injunctive relief’” following arbitration. 23andMe spokesperson Katie Watson tells The Verge the company “did not change our terms of service to prevent lawsuits.”
The company is only giving users 30 days from when they receive the email to opt out of the new policy, which you can do by contacting arbitrationoptout@23andme.com.
