The collapse of 23andMe is more than a business failure—it's a signal flare for every AI developer and tech executive. In this gripping episode of TCAST, Alexander McCaig and Jason Rigby dissect how a DNA data breach exposed over 7 million profiles and led to the unraveling of consumer trust. With 15 million users now at risk of having their most intimate genetic information auctioned off in bankruptcy court, the stakes for data privacy have never been higher.
The hosts unpack philosophical, legal, and technical perspectives: What does it mean to own your DNA? How does consent work when data outlives intent? Featuring insights from thinkers like John Locke and Luciano Floridi, and showcasing TARTLE’s decentralized model, this episode calls for an ethical reboot in how data is handled. Learn why centralized systems fail—and how TARTLE’s Data Vault Connect could've saved the day.
00:45 – Crisis Triggered: What the 23andMe bankruptcy means for tech.
04:20 – Genetic Ownership Debate: DNA as property or identity?
08:10 – Systemic Trust Failure: Consent debt and centralized vulnerabilities.
12:00 – The Gattaca Parallel: Profiling, prejudice, and dystopian AI futures.
17:35 – Zero-Debt Consent Model: TARTLE’s blueprint for data ethics.
21:00 – Data as a Renewable Resource: Lessons from natural ecosystems.
26:10 – Sovereign Nations & Data Wars: Who's buying your DNA?
30:25 – Final Challenge to Tech Leaders: Ethical design isn’t optional.
“Your DNA on the auction block isn’t a sci-fi plot—it’s happening now.” – Jason Rigby
“Centralized systems fail humans. Decentralized ones empower them.” – Alexander McCaig
“Data isn’t just property—it’s an extension of you.” – Alexander McCaig
TARTLE Platform – Explore decentralized data ownership
Books/Concepts: Luciano Floridi’s Informational Organisms, Helen Nissenbaum’s Contextual Integrity
Learn More About TARTLE Data Vault Connect: https://2ly.link/23CeM
