Tempus AI Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Genetic Data Disclosures
Tempus AI, a publicly traded healthcare AI company, is being sued in consolidated class action litigation over the alleged unauthorized collection and disclosure of genetic testing results from hundreds of thousands of individuals.
The lawsuit, consolidated on April 15, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, centers on Tempus AI's $600 million acquisition of Ambry Genetics in February 2025. As part of the deal, Ambry Genetics disclosed its genetic database to Tempus AI, which then used the data to train AI models and shared it with more than 70 pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
The Data Sharing
Tempus AI signed agreements with major pharmaceutical firms including AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline, as well as biotechnology companies like Incyte and Servier. Genetic data derived from Ambry Genetics testing was provided to those clients under these agreements, according to the complaint.
The plaintiffs claim Tempus AI profited from selling genetic data without knowledge or written consent from the individuals whose information was involved. They allege the deals totaled $1.1 billion.
Core Legal Claims
The lawsuit alleges violations of the Illinois Genetic Information Privacy Act and similar state statutes. It also challenges Tempus AI's public claims that it only discloses de-identified genetic information.
The plaintiffs argue that genetic information "cannot be deidentified because such data serves as an inherently unique biomarker" - similar to DNA itself. This claim directly contradicts the company's stated data practices.
The 21-count complaint includes claims for negligence, unjust enrichment, fraudulent concealment, invasion of privacy, breach of contract, and violations of consumer protection laws across California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and West Virginia.
What's at Stake
Tempus AI maintains a clinical and molecular data library with 45 million de-identified patient records, including 8.5 million clinical records, 2 million medical images, and 1 million matched clinical-genomic records.
The plaintiffs seek a jury trial, damages, and an injunction requiring Tempus AI to stop sharing genetic data without proper notice and written consent from individuals whose information is involved.
For healthcare professionals managing patient data or working with AI vendors, this case raises immediate questions about consent protocols, data handling agreements, and the enforceability of de-identification claims in genomic data. The outcome could reshape how healthcare organizations approach genetic data partnerships with AI firms.
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