Health officials have expressed concerns that Palantir's reputation could hinder the rollout of a £330 million NHS data platform, according to briefings obtained by the Guardian. The US surveillance technology firm, which also works with the Israeli military and Donald Trump's ICE operation, was selected in 2023 to build an AI-enabled data platform for the NHS.
In a private briefing for Health Secretary Wes Streeting in June 2025, Department of Health officials warned that public perception of Palantir would limit the platform's adoption, potentially undermining value for money. By last summer, fewer than half of health authorities in England had started using the technology, amid opposition from the public and doctors.
The British Medical Association has said its members could refuse to use parts of the system, citing Palantir's role in targeting ICE raids. MPs have called the company 'ghastly' and 'a highly questionable organisation'. The controversy has been compounded by Peter Mandelson's links to Palantir; before his sacking, Mandelson took Prime Minister Keir Starmer to meet Palantir's CEO.
Campaign group Foxglove, which obtained the briefing under FOI, said the government should listen to public concerns. A BMA spokesperson said it was concerning that officials dismissed public concern as 'misconceptions'. The briefing suggested Streeting could ask Palantir how to speed up rollout and revisit regulations on confidential patient information.
New figures show 151 NHS organisations now use the technology, still short of the 240 target. Palantir was co-founded by Peter Thiel, who has previously criticised the NHS.
