Under the "best practices" adopted by 23andMe and its peers, such sharing is permitted. GlaxoSmithKline is "not getting any direct access or receiving any sort of individual customer information," said Kate Black, the global privacy officer for 23andMe, just insights about broad chunks of users and their medical traits. The DNA testing company also said it previously had asked users' permission to participate in research, and it estimates 80 percent of its users agree to take part in such studies.