openSNP, a free and open-source, community-driven genetic and phenotypic data repository, has announced its decision to cease operations on April 30, 2025.
This decision stems from growing worries about user privacy and the potential misuse of sensitive genetic information by authoritarian governments in the United States and elsewhere.
In a blog post published on March 31, 2025, openSNP’s co-founder, Bastian Greshake Tzovaras, cited the increasing global trend toward authoritarian governance and the associated risks of data exploitation, including the financial collapse of 23andMe, as primary reasons for the shutdown.
The Journey
For those unaware, openSNP was founded in 2011 by Greshake Tzovaras, Philipp Bayer, and Helge Rausch to allow customers of commercial genetic testing kits, including 23andMe, to upload their personal genetic data, including information on their physical traits and health conditions, to support collaborative research and personal genomics studies. The platform prioritized transparency, making all shared data publicly available under a Creative Commons Zero license.
According to Greshake Tzovaras, the majority of the data in openSNP came from users of 23andMe, a prominent direct-to-consumer genetic testing company.
However, on March 23, 2025, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, raising substantial concerns regarding the fate of the genetic data of over 15 million customers, and the diminished possibility of adding new data to openSNP in the future. 23andMe’s bankruptcy filing has led to increased interest in genetic data by both law enforcement and corporate firms.
The Goodbye
OpenSNP will shut down on April 30, 2025, and all data stored on the platform will be deleted. The shutdown of the platform highlights increasing concerns about digital privacy in a time when personal data can be exploited by both state and non-state threat actors.
