More than 200,000 people have signed petitions urging the UK government to sever ties with US tech company Palantir, amid growing concerns over its role in the NHS, police, military, and local councils. The petitions, promoted by campaign group 38 Degrees, have attracted 229,000 signatures, calling for an end to all public contracts with the firm, whose software is used by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Israeli military.
The campaign has gained momentum following revelations that the Metropolitan Police is in talks to use Palantir's AI to analyse sensitive intelligence. Additionally, Palantir recently published a manifesto described by one MP as the 'ramblings of a supervillain', which argued that free and democratic societies need 'hard power' to prevail. The Liberal Democrats have also called for the cancellation of Palantir's £330 million NHS patient data contract and a halt to new agreements.
Palantir holds approximately £600 million in contracts with UK public bodies, including a £240 million deal with the Ministry of Defence and agreements with several police forces. The company is pushing back against criticism, with its UK chief executive, Louis Mosley, using social media memes to rebut claims. However, campaigners argue that the government should trigger break clauses on these contracts immediately.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski and legal campaigner Jolyon Maugham have been vocal in their opposition, though some of their claims have been inaccurate. Polanski wrongly stated that Peter Thiel is Palantir's CEO and labelled the company a spyware firm. Mosley described the latter as 'technically defamatory' but said the company would not sue. Despite this, Polanski insists that ministers must listen to the public and end the 'appalling contract'.
