COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for bankruptcy, sparking concerns about the future of the personal information of its more than 15 million customers.

The company, known for providing insights into family histories and genetic profiles, is now under scrutiny regarding the handling of its vast data trove.

Many customers may have believed their information was protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), but this is not the case. The company is primarily governed by its own internal rules.

For those worried about their data privacy, 23andMe has outlined steps to delete personal information:

• Log into your account
• Navigate to the Settings section
• Look for the "23 and Me Data" area.
• Select "View"
• Scroll to "Delete Data"
• Choose "Permanently Delete Data"

An email confirmation will follow to verify the request.

Despite the bankruptcy filing, the company has assured that all customer information remains protected.