Gottheimer calls for FBI investigation into 23andMe data breach
Hackers disclosed their targets were Jewish users
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) Thursday urged the Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Christopher A. Wray to launch an investigation into the recent data breach at 23andMe, a popular genetic testing service, to determine if the compromised data could be exploited to target the Jewish community.
The hackers gained access to sensitive personal information — including geographic location, birth year, family lineage and photos — of roughly 6.9 million people.
In October, the hackers disclosed their targeted focus on Jewish users by posting a purchase catalog of approximately one million Ashkenazi Jewish users, representing 17.2 percent of the American Jewish population, and 6.6 percent of the global Jewish population.
“I am concerned that the leaked data could empower Hamas, their supporters, and various international extremist groups to target the American Jewish population and their families. The threat of violent domestic extremism poses a significant danger to America’s Jewish community,” said Gottheimer (NJ-5) in the letter to Federal Bureau of Investigations Director Christopher A. Wray. “History tells us that when extremists threaten genocide against Jews, we should take them seriously and take swift and robust actions to prevent such atrocities. I urge the FBI to investigate 23andMe’s data breach to protect the information, locations, and lives of the American Jewish population.”
