Why is 23andMe demanding secrecy from its customers?

It’s typical for companies to email their customers asking to survey them for internal research purposes, often in exchange for a gift card. What’s less typical is the secrecy demanded by consumer genetics giant 23andMe for a study and a survey it recently invited its customers to participate in.

23andMe customer Charles Warden tipped us off about a couple of emails he received from the company last week. One invited him to take part in a laboratory quality test to “help us affirm accuracy and precision of our testing process for a wide range of customers”; if selected to participate in the study, he’d be sent 20 spit kits and would be expected to mail them back with his saliva samples. He was interested — until he was asked to agree not to publicize the study or share details about his involvement on Twitter, Facebook, or on a blog.

Similarly, an invitation to participate in a 30-minute interview “to help us improve our products and services” came with terms and conditions requiring him to keep silent about all concepts and ideas presented in the interview for five years or until that information became public through other means. And if he spoke out before then? 23andMe may seek an injunction against him, the agreement says.

Asked for comment, 23andMe spokesperson Liza Crenshaw said that participation in these studies is voluntary and does not impact a customer’s experience. The restrictions on speaking out are in place “to protect confidential information that may be shared with the customer, including new product concepts or designs or validation activities, in the course of the customer’s participation,” Crenshaw said.

Warden said he hopes the company changes its mind about the confidentiality requirements and “would be happy to participate” if it does so.