Story perspectives
UK Biobank Data of 500,000 Sold on Alibaba, Investigation Launched
4/23/2026
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Story summary
- Half a million UK Biobank participants’ data were listed for sale on Alibaba’s Chinese platform.
- Technology Minister Ian Murray confirmed the sale, revoked the institutions’ access and opened an investigation.
- The datasets excluded names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth and NHS numbers.
- Biobank chief executive Sir Rory Collins apologized and said new security measures will be added.
