Medical data of 500,000 UK volunteers listed for sale on Alibaba

UK Biobank reported that de‑identified genomic and health data for roughly 500,000 volunteers — including genetic sequences, imaging, and detailed lifestyle records — appeared on Alibaba after being downloaded under approved research contracts; access was revoked and the adverts removed. The article warns that such population‑scale datasets are strategically valuable, can be re‑identified when combined with other records, and calls for stronger governance, secure analysis environments, and limits on foreign access.