SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) -- California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a consumer alert Friday to customers of 23andMe, a genetic testing and information company. The company recently moved its headquarters from Sunnyvale to South San Francisco. 23andMe "has publicly reported that it is in financi al distress and stated in securities filings that there is substantial doubt about its ability to continue, which is a growing concern. Due to the trove of sensitive consumer data 23andMe has amassed, Attorney General Bonta reminds Californians of their right to direct the deletion of their genetic data," the AG's office wrote. The Genetic Information Privacy Act (GIPA) and California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) protect Californians. Customers who want to invoke these rights can do so by going to 23andMe's website.  Bonta said, "Given 23andMe’s reported financial distress, I remind Californians to consider invoking their rights and directing 23andMe to delete their data and destroy any samples of genetic material held by the company." Turmoil for 23andMe included a high-profile data breach, several rounds of previous layoffs and piling losses that plunged the company’s stock over recent years. The company struggled to find a profitable business model with most buyers of its saliva-based testing kits only needing to purchase once.  Sutro Biopharma lays off dozens of employees In November 2024, 23andMe eliminated 40% of its workforce, or more than 200 employees, and discontinued its therapeutics division in an attempt to slash costs. According to the AG's office, 23andMe customers can delete their account and personal information by taking the following steps: Log into your 23andMe account on their website.  Go to the “Settings” section of your profile. Scroll to a section labeled “23andMe Data” at the bottom of the page.  Click “View” next to “23andMe Data” Download your data: If you want a copy of your genetic data for personal storage, choose the option to download it to your device before proceeding. Scroll to the “Delete Data” section.  Click “Permanently Delete Data.”  Confirm your request: You’ll receive an email from 23andMe; follow the link in the email to confirm your deletion request. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ...read more read less