A DNA-testing company, Atlas Biomed, has stopped trading without telling its customers what happened to their data. Customers are worried as they cannot access their reports, and the company is not responding to inquiries. The Information Commissioner’s Office has received complaints about the company. People who paid for reports feel helpless and alarmed.
Lisa Topping and Kate Lake are some customers affected. Lisa used to check her genetic report online until the site disappeared. Kate paid for a report that was never delivered and never got a refund. The company seems to have links with Russia but its whereabouts are unknown.
Experts warn that personal DNA data is valuable and should be protected. Customers are at the mercy of such companies and must trust them with their sensitive information. It remains unclear what has happened to Atlas Biomed’s database, and nobody has been able to reach the company.
Vocabulary List:
- Data /ˈdeɪ.tə/ (noun): Facts and statistics collected for reference or analysis.
- Inquiries /ɪnˈkwaɪəriz/ (noun): An act of asking for information.
- Valuable /ˈvæl.jə.bəl/ (adjective): Worth a great deal of money or importance.
- Sensitive /ˈsɛn.sɪ.tɪv/ (adjective): Easily affected by external factors often requiring special care.
- Complaints /kəmˈpleɪnts/ (noun): Expressions of dissatisfaction or annoyance about something.
- Helpless /ˈhɛlpləs/ (adjective): Unable to defend oneself or act effectively.
