Top 5 at 5: Will 23andMe Put Personal Genetic Data Up for Sale?
Dr Mohammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Aziz, Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Malaya
10-Apr-25 17:00
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With 23andMe filing for bankruptcy, concerns are mounting over the fate of genetic data from its 15 million customers — especially as a U.S. judge has ruled that the company can sell user data. Dr Mohammad Firdaus Bin Abdul Aziz, Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya, joins us to unpack what this means for consent, contracts, and consumer rights.
Other stories we covered:
• Trump pauses global tariffs—except on China: President Trump reversed course by pausing new tariffs on 60 countries — but notably excluded China, intensifying U.S.-China trade tensions. Heron Lim, economist at Moody’s Analytics, helps us make sense of the political zigzags and what Beijing’s next move could be.
• Bukit Cherakah ruling delay stalls legal action: NGOs are raising the alarm over the Court of Appeal’s delay in releasing its written judgment on the Bukit Cherakah forest case, preventing them from escalating the battle to the Federal Court. Joanna de Rozario, Vice Secretary of the SACF Society, explains the legal roadblocks and implications for forest conservation.
• Johor teen arrested for allegedly creating AI-generated explicit images: A teen in Johor has been arrested in connection with AI-generated explicit images allegedly involving up to 40 schoolgirls, prompting investigations into a possible case of digital sexual abuse. Consultant child psychologist Katyana Azman joins us to discuss the psychological impact on young victims and the importance of early intervention and support.
• Why Dubai chocolate is everywhere now: Inspired by the flavours of Middle Eastern kunafa, “Dubai chocolate” — with pistachio cream, kataifi, and vibrant splashes — is the latest dessert sensation in Malaysia. We discuss the hype and how this UAE-origin treat made the leap from niche novelty to local hit.
Image Credit: Shutterstock
Produced by: Tee Shiao Eek, Sudais Ferhard, Sharaad Kuttan, Juliet Jacobs, Sneha Harikannan, Lim Sue Ann
Presented by: Lee Chwi Lynn, Sharaad Kuttan
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Categories: economy, politics, international, environment, government, health policy
Tags: digital sexual abuse, dubai chocolate, pistachio, 23andme, genetics, data privacy, us-china trade war, tariffs, bukit cherakah forest reserve, child psychology,