A prominent DNA-testing company, Atlas Biomed, appears to have ceased operations without informing customers about the fate of their sensitive genetic data. The London-based firm previously offered insights into genetic profiles and predispositions to illnesses, but users can no longer access their online reports. Efforts by the BBC to contact the company have gone unanswered.
Customers describe the situation as "very alarming," with one stating they are worried about the handling of their "most personal information." The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) confirmed it is investigating a complaint about the company. “People have the right to expect that organisations will handle their personal information securely and responsibly,” the ICO said.
Several customers shared troubling experiences. Lisa Topping, from Essex, paid £100 for her genetic report, which she accessed periodically online—until the site vanished. “I don’t know how comfortable I feel that they have just disappeared,” she said.
Another customer, Kate Lake from Kent, paid £139 in 2023 for a report that was never delivered. Despite being promised a refund, the company went silent. “What happens now to that information they have got? I would like to hear some answers,” she said.
Attempts to reach Atlas Biomed have been fruitless. Phone lines are inactive, its London office is vacant, and social media accounts have been dormant since mid-2023.
The firm is still registered as active with Companies House but has not filed accounts since December 2022. Four officers have resigned, and two current officers share a Moscow address with a Russian billionaire who is a former director. Cybersecurity expert Prof. Alan Woodward called the Russian links “odd,” stating, “If people knew the provenance of this company and how it operates, they might not trust them with their DNA.”
Experts highlight the risks associated with DNA testing. Prof. Carissa Veliz, author of Privacy is Power, warned, “DNA is uniquely yours; you can’t change it. When you give your data to a company, you are completely at their mercy.”
Although no evidence of misuse has been found, concerns remain over what has become of the company’s DNA database. Prof. Veliz emphasized, “We shouldn’t have to wait until something happens.”
