Palantir is preparing to take legal action against London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan after he blocked a £50 million contract with the Metropolitan Police. The data analytics company was set to assist the Met in deploying AI technology to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations. However, the mayor vetoed the deal, citing concerns about using public funds to support firms that "act contrary to London's values" and questioning the procurement process.
Legal Challenge and Political Backlash
The US tech giant has labeled the decision as "politicised," and its lawyers have formally notified the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) of their intention to challenge it in court. The Met Police may back Palantir's claim, having criticized the mayor's move and warned that officer numbers could be cut without the new technology.
Palantir initially secured a contract worth under £500,000 to use AI in detecting rogue officers, which bypassed mayoral scrutiny. The Met sought to expand Palantir's role to scan criminal intelligence data for patterns, but City Hall vetoed the extension, arguing that the process excluded other suppliers.
Controversy Over Palantir's Clients
Palantir's work with the Israeli military and the Trump administration has drawn criticism from Labour politicians, who have called for the company to lose its public sector contracts. Tooting MP Rosena Allin-Khan stated, "Palantir does not reflect the values of our city. We must maintain public trust and ensure that any tech partnerships truly serve the safety and rights of Londoners." Norwich South MP Clive Lewis added, "Other mayors and police and crime commissioners should take note and keep Palantir out of policing."
Palantir's Defence and NHS Contract
Louis Mosley, CEO of Palantir UK, accused Sir Sadiq of politicising procurement. He told Times Radio: "What Londoners value is not being mugged, not being raped by a serving police officer, and that's really what the focus here should be. If we are going to politicise procurement in that way, then we are going to compromise public safety." He also highlighted that Palantir has a £330 million NHS contract to reduce hospital waiting lists and speed up patient discharge, which has enabled over 100,000 additional operations.
Mosley defended the company's work with Israel and the Trump administration, noting that other tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft also collaborate with these entities. "Why do we get singled out?" he asked.
