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Pa. Attorney General joins suit to block 23andMe sale of customers' genetic data

Pa. Attorney General joins suit to block 23andMe sale of customers' genetic data
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      TRUMP AND CALIFORNIA LEADERS. GOOD MORNING, EVERYBODY. WE ARE GLAD YOU’RE WITH US TO START YOUR DAY. I’M MATT BARCARO I’M CAITLIN SMITH. HERE’S WHAT WE’RE FOLLOWING ACROSS THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY THIS MORNING. NEWS EIGHT’S JAKE REYES IS IN YORK COUNTY FOLLOWING THE VERDICT IN THAT MURDER TRIAL OF A TEENAGER. NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIELLE THOMAS IS IN LANCASTER COUNTY, WHERE FAMILY FARM DAYS IS UNDERWAY IN OREGON. DAIRY IN MANHEIM TOWNSHIP. AFTER A WEATHER DELAY. AND OUR WEATHER RIGHT NOW LOOKING PRETTY GOOD THIS MORNING. THIS IS A LIVE LOOK FROM OUR GETTYSBURG SKYCAM. IF YOU MISSED THE STRAWBERRY MOON, IT WAS QUITE A SHOW IN THE SKY, BUT WE’RE NOW ON TO THE SUNRISE. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT TODAY A BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE BEHIND YOU IN YORK. YEAH, I’M LOVING THIS ONE BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME OF THAT WILDFIRE SMOKE AND HAZE IN THE SKY TODAY. ALWAYS MAKES FOR COLORFUL SUNRISES AND SUNSETS. AND TAKE A LOOK AT THAT SKY IN YORK. ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. AS WE START OUR WEDNESDAY. AND TODAY IS THE PICK OF THE WEEK BECAUSE WE HAVE LOW TEMPERATURES, LOW HUMIDITY. TO START YOUR DAY 54 IN SELINSGROVE, 61 IN LANCASTER, 59 DEGREES IN CARLISLE. IT’S A COMFY DAY WITH A TOP TEMPERATURE OF 84 DEGREES. LIGHT WESTERLY WINDS. AND AGAIN, THAT HUMIDITY REMAINS IN CHECK. THAT’S THE IMPORTANT THING IF YOU’RE NOT A FAN OF THE STICKY. SO I THINK TODAY IS GOING TO BE REALLY THE MOST COMFORTABLE. THEN TOMORROW GETS A LITTLE TOASTY PICK OF THE WEEK. AND I LOVE WHEN THE SUN GOES RIGHT IN BETWEEN THE TWO LITTLE PILLARS THERE, LIKE SCRATCHES. THE BEST PART OF MY BRAIN I LOVE THAT. ALL RIGHT CHRISTINE, THANK YOU AND HAPPY WEDNESDAY EVERYONE. 602 ON THE CLOCK RIGHT NOW. HOPEFULLY YOU’RE HAVING A NICE MORNING. AND TODAY IS GOING TO BE A BEAUTIFUL DAY. SO LOOK FORWARD TO THAT IN HELLAM TOWNSHIP RIGHT NOW. ACTUALLY LET’S GET TO DAUPHIN COUNTY. THIS IS SWATARA TOWNSHIP. THERE IS A BIG INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS MORNING WITH A TANKER TRUCK AND TRAFFIC RIGHT NOW IS BUILDING BEHIND THE ROADBLOCK THERE BETWEEN EXIT TWO, ROUTE FOUR, 41, LINDLE ROAD AND EXIT THREE A, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT RED INDICATING THE SLOWDOWN BEHIND. SO AT THIS POINT, AVOIDING NORTHBOUND I-83 WOULD BE I 283 WOULD BE THE BEST BET. AND WE’LL TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN THE NEWSCAST AS WELL. ALSO IN DAUPHIN COUNTY, THIS IS A ROAD CLOSED DUE TO SOME FLOODING THERE. LINGUAL AVENUE BOTH WAYS FROM OATFIELD LANE TO NORTHSIDE DRIVE RIGHT BEFORE THE LEBANON COUNTY LINE. AND WE’RE ALSO MONITORING AN INCIDENT IN YORK COUNTY. THIS IS HELLAM TOWNSHIP ON COAL CREEK ROAD AT WILEY’S ALLEY, AND YOU CAN SEE THE SLOWDOWN THERE. WE’LL HAVE ANOTHER UPDATE IN JUST A BIT. ALL RIGHT. LET’S SHOW YOU THAT SCENE THAT REGINA WAS JUST MENTIONING, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, A PORTION OF INTERSTATE 283 NORTH IN DAUPHIN COUNTY IS CLOSED AFTER THAT TANKER TRUCK OVERTURNED. SO HERE’S A LIVE LOOK AT THAT TRAFFIC BEING DIRECTED OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. PENNDOT SAYS THE CRASH HAPPENED AROUND 8:00 LAST NIGHT IN SWATARA TOWNSHIP, CLOSE TO I-83. BUT YOU CAN SEE STILL CLOSED, STILL A BACKUP BECAUSE OF THIS, TRAFFIC IN THE NORTHBOUND LANES HAS BEEN DETOURED OFF THE HIGHWAY NEAR EXIT TWO SINCE THE CRASH HAPPENED. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED, BUT THIS COULD IMPACT YOUR MORNING COMMUTE. NEW THIS MORNING, A STATE POLICE SAY A MOTORCYCLIST DIED IN A CRASH IN PERRY COUNTY. TROOPERS SAY GARY LEEPER, WHO WAS 40 YEARS OLD, DROVE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AFTER LOSING CONTROL AT A CURVE IN A ROAD, THEN HIT A GUARDRAIL. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, THIS HAPPENED LATE LAST NIGHT ON SPRING ROAD NEAR LANDIS BERG ROAD IN CARROLL TOWNSHIP. TROOPERS SAY NO OTHER CARS WERE INVOLVED IN YORK COUNTY. A JURY FOUND A 15 YEAR OLD BOY GUILTY OF KILLING HIS 12 YEAR OLD FRIEND. NOW, NOLAN GROVE IS IN THE YORK COUNTY PRISON. NEWS EIGHT’S JAY GRAY IS STANDING OUTSIDE THE PRISON THIS MORNING WITH HOW THE JURY CAME TO THIS DECISION. JAKE, WHAT DO WE KNOW? GOOD MORNING. WELL, THE JURY FOUND NOLAN GROVE GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES AGAINST HIM FOR SHOOTING AND KILLING KANE HYLAND, HIS 12 YEAR OLD FRIEND IN RED LION IN 2023. AND THIS COMES AFTER ABOUT FIVE HOURS OF DELIBERATION. NOW, GROVE WAS ALSO FOUND GUILTY OF MULTIPLE GUN CHARGES AND RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT FOR KANE AND THREE OTHER TEENS. NOW TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. THIS WAS GROVE IN THE FINAL DAY OF THE TRIAL, WHO OUR TEAM SAYS WAS SEEMINGLY NERVOUS AND BITING HIS NAILS AS HE AWAITED THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE JURY’S DECISION. NEARLY TWO DOZEN PEOPLE TESTIFIED IN THIS TRIAL. THE DEFENSE ARGUED THAT GROVE DID NOT MEAN TO SHOOT HYLAND, AND THAT HE AND HIS FRIENDS WERE JUST BEING STUPID AND RECKLESS BOYS. PROSECUTORS ARGUED, HOWEVER, THAT THE ACT WAS INTENTIONAL AND THAT GROVE MADE A CONSCIOUS DECISION TO POINT AND FIRE A GUN THAT WAS KEPT IN A SAFE. DURING TESTIMONY, GROVE SAID HE WAS USING THE LASER ON THE GUN AS A LIGHT TO WALK IN THE DARK, NOT REALIZING HIS FINGER WAS ON THE TRIGGER. GROVE’S LAWYER SAYS THAT HE WAS CONFIDENT UNTIL JURORS ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT WHETHER GROVE KNEW THERE WAS A BULLET IN THE GUN BEFORE HE PULLED THE TRIGGER. IN HIS MIND, HE WAS CONVINCED THAT IT WAS UNLOADED, BUT OBVIOUSLY IT WASN’T. IS IT SO? BASED ON THAT, I THINK THE RESPONSE THE JUDGE HAD GIVEN TO THE FIRST QUESTION WAS, WAS WAS NOT CORRECT. AND AFTER RECEIVING THE GUILTY VERDICT, GROVE’S MOTHER WAS SEEN CRYING AND RUNNING OUT OF THE COURTROOM BEFORE HER SON WAS HANDCUFFED AND ESCORTED OUT. NOW, GROVE’S ATTORNEY SAYS THAT THEY DO PLAN TO THEY DO PLAN TO APPEAL AND HIS PRE-SENTENCE DATE IS SET FOR AUGUST 28TH. REPORTING LIVE IN YORK COUNTY, JAKE REYES, WGAL NEWS EIGHT. THANK YOU JAKE. AND NOW FAMILY MEMBERS OF KANE HYLAND ARE SHARING THEIR REACTION TO THIS GUILTY VERDICT IN THE TRIAL OF NOLAN GROVE. LINDA ARVIN HAS BEEN MOURNING HER GRANDSON, KANE HYLAND, FOR TWO YEARS NOW. SHE SAYS A FEELING OF UNCERTAINTY HAS BEEN LIFTED NOW THAT THE TRIAL IS OVER. BUT SHE SAYS THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THAT GUILTY VERDICT WERE NOT EASY, AS THE FAMILY WAS FORCED TO FACE KANE’S KILLER. IT’S CHILLING, BONE CHILLING TO EVEN LOOK AT HIM. IT’S JUST ANGER. BUT THEN WHEN YOU SEE HIM UP THERE AND HE, HE HE WAS A CHILD. BUT WHEN HE PICKED THAT GUN UP, HE WASN’T A CHILD ANYMORE. HE MADE THE DECISION. BUT HIS DAD MADE THE DECISION AND LET IT ACCESSIBLE FOR HIM. SHE SAYS THE FAMILY’S FIGHT FOR JUSTICE ISN’T OVER, AS YOU JUST HEARD HER MENTIONING THERE. SHE DOES WANT NOLAN GROVE’S FATHER, JONATHAN GROVE, TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AFTER NOLAN GROVE WAS ABLE TO GET THAT GUN FROM THE HOME. NEW THIS MORNING, WESTERN LEBANON COUNTY REGIONAL POLICE SAY A MAN IS FACING SEVERAL CHARGES AFTER THEY SAY HE SEXUALLY ASSAULTED A CHILD. POLICE SAY THEY ARRESTED MATTHEW KOEPKE AFTER RECEIVING A REPORT OF THIS LAST YEAR. ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE CHARGES STEMMED FROM AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT HAPPENED AT A HOME IN ANNVILLE TOWNSHIP BETWEEN 2020 AND 2022. THE LANCASTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE SAYS A MAN CHARGED WITH RAPING A WOMAN AT KNIFEPOINT IS SET TO HAVE HIS CASE PROCEED TO COUNTY COURT. THE DA’S OFFICE SAYS 43 YEAR OLD JOSE MATASSA WAIVED HIS PRELIMINARY HEARING EARLIER THIS MONTH. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE VICTIM TOLD POLICE THAT MATASSA PUT A KNIFE ON HER THROAT AND THREATENED TO STAB HER, AND THEN PLACED HIS HAND OVER HER MOUTH TO TRY TO STOP HER FROM SCREAMING. MATT OSADA REMAINS BEHIND BARS THIS MORNING AT THE LANCASTER COUNTY PRISON. HARRISBURG POLICE SAY A MAN IS FACING ATTEMPTED HOMICIDE CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING IN THE CITY LAST MONTH. POLICE SAY JERRY TASKER JUNIOR, WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY FOR SHOOTING. THAT HAPPENED ON HONEY ALLEY IN ALLISON HILL. THE VICTIM IN THAT SHOOTING WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN A PRIVATE VEHICLE AT THE TIME, BUT THEN TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER HOSPITAL FOR MORE ADVANCED CARE. YORK COUNTY REGIONAL POLICE SAY A FORMER EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND IS NOW FACING CRIMINAL CHARGES. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT IS FULLY COOPERATING WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE THROUGH THIS INVESTIGATION. NOW, INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT RELEASED THIS FORMER EMPLOYEES NAME OR WHAT SPECIFIC CHARGES THAT PERSON IS FACING. A FORMER EMPLOYEE AT A ADAMS COUNTY FIRE COMPANY IS FACING CHARGES AFTER INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY STOLE $12,000 FROM THE FIRE COMPANY. SOUTHEASTERN ADAMS VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY SERVICES SAYS CONEWAGO TOWNSHIP POLICE CHARGED THAT FORMER EMPLOYEE ON MONDAY. THE FIRE COMPANY’S PRESIDENT SAYS HE WAS SURPRISED AND SADDENED TO HEAR ABOUT THE MONEY BEING TAKEN. A BILL REGULATING DEEP FAKES. WHICH ARE THOSE VIDEOS OR PICTURES THAT LOOK REAL BUT USE AI TO MANIPULATE THEM, IS MOVING FORWARD AGAIN. SO WE TOLD YOU ABOUT THIS BILL WHEN IT PASSED IN THE STATE SENATE COMMITTEE. WELL, NOW IT’S ON TO THE STATE HOUSE. AFTER PASSING IN A FULL SENATE VOTE. THE BILL WOULD UPDATE THE CURRENT FORGERY PROVISIONS TO INCLUDE DIGITAL LIKENESS. UNDER THE PROPOSED RULES, IF YOU CREATE A DEEPFAKE OF A REAL PERSON WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT, WITH THE INTENT TO DEFRAUD OR INJURE THEM, YOU COULD FACE PENALTIES. A BILL IS HEADING TO THE STATE HOUSE THAT WOULD ALLOW EMS WORKERS TO LEAVE EXTRA NALOXONE DOSES WITH OVERDOSE SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. YORK COUNTY REPUBLICAN SENATOR, STATE SENATOR KRISTIN PHILLIPS-HILL IS SPONSORING THIS BILL, WHICH SHE SAYS WOULD GIVE THE OPIOID OVERDOSE REVERSING DRUG, ALSO KNOWN AS NARCAN, TO CAREGIVERS AND LOVED ONES TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD AN OVERDOSE TO POTENTIALLY SAVE MORE LIVES. IT’S 609, AND IN LANCASTER COUNTY, OREGON, DAIRY FAMILY FARM DAYS KICK OFF TODAY AFTER A RAIN DELAY YESTERDAY. REMEMBER THOSE DOWNPOURS YESTERDAY MORNING? SO THEY’RE PACKING IT ALL NOW INTO TWO DAYS. AND NEWS EIGHT’S GABRIELLE THOMAS IS LIVE IN MANHEIM TOWNSHIP ON THE FARM WITH SOME COWS BEHIND TO GABRIELLE. GOOD MORNING CAITLIN. I KNOW MOST OF YOU ARE USED TO GOING TO THE GROCERY STORE TO MAYBE PICK UP SOME MILK OR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, BUT IT’S A WHOLE PROCESS THAT THAT STUFF GOES THROUGH BEFORE IT GETS TO YOUR PLATE. NOW I HAVE MARIA JOINING ME THIS MORNING. SHE’S WITH FAMILY FARM DAYS. MARIA, EXPLAIN TO ME THAT PROCESS WHEN IT COMES TO DAIRY, WHEN IT COMES TO DAIRY. WE GROW THE FOOD THAT WE FEED TO THE COWS. THE COWS EAT THE FEED. THEY PRODUCE MILK. SO WE MILK THEM WITH ELECTRIC MILKING MACHINES, WHICH MEANS WE TAKE THE MILK OUT. THE MILK COMES OUT OF THE COW, IT GOES THROUGH PIPES INTO A MILK TANK. A MILK TRUCK PICKS UP THE MILK AND TAKES IT TO THE PAST, TO THE PROCESSING PLANT WHERE IT GETS PASTEURIZED AND HOMOGENIZED AND PUT INTO THE BOTTLES. MILK NEVER TOUCHES HUMAN HANDS. IT’S EXTREMELY SAFE AND NUTRITIOUS FOR US. ALL RIGHT, WELL, OBVIOUSLY THE COWS HAVEN’T HAD BREAKFAST AS OF YET, BUT IF PEOPLE COME HERE IN THIS AREA, WHAT CAN THEY LEARN ABOUT THE COWS? TODAY? IF YOU COME TO FAMILY FARM DAYS, THE WAGON RIDE BRINGS YOU RIGHT THROUGH THE BARN HERE. SO YOU WILL SEE THE COWS UP HERE EATING FRESH FEED. THEY MIGHT BE LYING DOWN AND TAKING A NAP, BUT YOU WILL GET TO SEE THE COWS UP CLOSE BECAUSE THE WAGON RIDES DRIVES RIGHT HERE THROUGH THE BARN. MARIA. THANK YOU. WELL, IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND FAMILY FARM DAYS, THEY WILL BE HERE THROUGH THURSDAY. ADMISSION IS FREE. REPORTING LIVE HERE IN MANHE
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      Updated: 1:51 PM EDT Jun 12, 2025
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      Pa. Attorney General joins suit to block 23andMe sale of customers' genetic data
      WGAL logo
      Updated: 1:51 PM EDT Jun 12, 2025
      Editorial Standards
      Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that his office is joining a group of 28 attorneys general in a lawsuit against 23andMe, which would block the company from selling customers' personal genetic information. 23andMe collected genetic data from millions of consumers across the country before filing for bankruptcy. Now the DNA testing company is trying to sell off its assets, including genetic and health data from customers."The millions of consumers — including many Pennsylvanians — who paid for these services certainly did not expect their sensitive data to one day be sold off to a highest bidder," Sunday said in a statement. "23andMe is trying to avoid their legal obligations to consumers simply by labeling this sale and transfer of consumer data as a ‘change of ownership.’ I continue to encourage 23andMe customers to consider deleting their data from the company’s database."Impacted consumers can file a proof of claim online here. A proof of claim is a formal statement stating you have a right to payment from a person or entity filing for bankruptcy."The states argue that this kind of information – biological samples, DNA data, health-related traits, and medical records – is too sensitive to be sold without each person’s informed consent. If the parties that seek to buy that information from 23andMe are unwilling to provide such consent, it is possible that the information will be unable to be sold. In either case, the states will be helping ensure that consumers’ genetic data isn’t misused, exposed in future data breaches, or used in ways consumers never imagined when they signed up for 23andMe," a statement from the AG's office says.Joining Pennsylvania in the lawsuit are the attorneys general from:ArizonaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaIllinoisKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMichiganMinnesotaMissouriNew HampshireNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaOklahomaOregonSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWest VirginiaWisconsin

      Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that his office is joining a group of 28 attorneys general in a lawsuit against 23andMe, which would block the company from selling customers' personal genetic information.

      23andMe collected genetic data from millions of consumers across the country before filing for bankruptcy. Now the DNA testing company is trying to sell off its assets, including genetic and health data from customers.

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      "The millions of consumers — including many Pennsylvanians — who paid for these services certainly did not expect their sensitive data to one day be sold off to a highest bidder," Sunday said in a statement. "23andMe is trying to avoid their legal obligations to consumers simply by labeling this sale and transfer of consumer data as a ‘change of ownership.’ I continue to encourage 23andMe customers to consider deleting their data from the company’s database."

      Impacted consumers can file a proof of claim online here. A proof of claim is a formal statement stating you have a right to payment from a person or entity filing for bankruptcy.

      "The states argue that this kind of information – biological samples, DNA data, health-related traits, and medical records – is too sensitive to be sold without each person’s informed consent. If the parties that seek to buy that information from 23andMe are unwilling to provide such consent, it is possible that the information will be unable to be sold. In either case, the states will be helping ensure that consumers’ genetic data isn’t misused, exposed in future data breaches, or used in ways consumers never imagined when they signed up for 23andMe," a statement from the AG's office says.

      Joining Pennsylvania in the lawsuit are the attorneys general from:

      • Arizona
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • District of Columbia
      • Florida
      • Illinois
      • Kansas
      • Kentucky
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Missouri
      • New Hampshire
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Oklahoma
      • Oregon
      • South Carolina
      • South Dakota
      • Utah
      • Vermont
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • West Virginia
      • Wisconsin