Protecting health data at UK Biobank

UK Biobank is one of the world’s most important biomedical research resources, holding detailed genetic, health, and lifestyle data on half a million British volunteers. More than 22 000 researchers across 60 countries have used the data, contributing to over 18 000 peer reviewed publications.1 It is an extraordinary resource, with a tarnished reputation after a series of scandals. In 2024, a team promoting racist pseudoscience was filmed claiming to have obtained Biobank data.2 In 2025, intelligence officials expressed concerns after one in five successful access applications came from China.3 Academics have argued Biobank’s consent documents and leaflets have left participants in the dark about these risks.4Most recently, an investigation by the Guardian newspaper revealed that researchers have—in the past—repeatedly and accidentally uploaded datasets to the code sharing platform GitHub, forcing Biobank to issue at least 80 legal takedown notices. One file included millions of hospital diagnoses and appointment dates…