(March 2
Government websites in December reported a Palantir contract with USDA.
Palantir has said it can revolutionize government computer systems, but concerns have also been raised that its system can be used for government surveillance.
Farmers have long been concerned about the privacy of their information, particularly with private companies.
(April 22, 2026)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) signed a $300 million blanket purchase agreement with AI company Palantir Technologies to update the government agency’s digital infrastructure and address the goals of the National Farm Security Action Plan.
(April 22, 2026)
The manifesto published by Palantir Technologies is neither a technical document nor an economic vision. It is an explicit political document announcing a new phase in the trajectory of digital capitalism, a phase in which it has abandoned its claim to neutrality and decided to unmask itself, revealing its full ideological face. Palantir is not an isolated case in the global technological landscape. It is one of several major technology companies that sell their technologies to systems of repression and human rights violations, and has been condemned by international human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, for its role in enabling forced deportations, mass surveillance, and the persecution of dissidents.
Most damning of all, documented reports have revealed a direct partnership between this company, alongside other Western technology companies such as Google, Amazon, and Microsoft, and the Israeli military, providing data and targeting systems that were used in military operations on Gaza, making it an actual partner in documented war crimes against Palestinian civilians.
(June 30, 2025)
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 investigates the corporate machinery sustaining the Israeli settler-colonial project of displacement and replacement of the Palestinians in the occupied territory. While political leaders and Governments shirk their obligations, far too many corporate entities have profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now genocide. The complicity exposed by the report is just the tip of the iceberg; ending it will not happen without holding the private sector accountable, including# its executives. International law recognizes varying degrees of responsibility – each requiring scrutiny and accountability, particularly in this case, where a people’s self-determination and very existence are at stake. This is a necessary step to end the genocide and dismantle the global system that has allowed it.
Last week, the Express reported in detail on how Palantir secured a „record“ £240 million deal with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) in late 2025, forming part of a wider, more extensive, and occasionally undisclosed, £670m+ package of agreements with the UK government. Peter Mandelson played a significant role with Global Counsel, a consultancy that lobbied for Palantir and was was viewed as enabling the firm‘s access to the Starmer government. The tight relationship between the UK government and Palantir attracted fierce scrutiny owing to Palantir‘s connections to Donald Trump (via co-founder Peter Thiel) and its participation in contentious AI-powered military surveillance.
As Mandelson‘s slimy rise and slippery fall have been documented over the years, it seems extraordinary that he could have lasted this long. Let‘s hope this sorry latest scandal relating to Epstein will be the last we hear of the Prince of Darkness
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency was created in the shadow of the so-called Global War on Terror that followed the attacks of 11 September 2001.
It became a key pillar of the architecture of repressive surveillance and militarised tactics that emerged during the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
ICE itself was specifically designed to pursue „national security threats“ within the United States, granting agents sweeping discretion over who could be deemed to „pose a threat to public safety or national security“.
Since then, it has come to represent a rogue operation, its reputation clouded by harrowing stories of abuse, impunity and a near total lack of oversight.
Its close association with Palantir, a surveillance firm accused of helping generate kill lists for Israel, has also further embedded it within the US military-industrial complex.
Scalawag Magazine described Palantir‘s partnership with ICE as „one of the many links comprising the military-industrial surveillance connections between ICE and Israel Defense Forces“.
These links, it wrote, illustrate the ideological and practical ties between the two bodies, as they work to advance the militarisation of policing through the weaponisation of surveillance technology.
ICE has also participated in several exchanges with the Israeli military, and during the student protests for Gaza, it lifted names from the blacklisting website Canary Mission to identify and arrest protesters.
Die sächsische Polizei soll Menschen, die beim Autofahren ihr Handy bedienen, mit Drohnen jagen. Doch das ist nur ein Hammer im Polizeigesetz-Entwurf: Die Polizei soll in Zukunft auch Verhaltensscanner, Palantir-Datenanalyse, Live-Gesichtserkennung, Gesichter-Suchmaschinen und Staatstrojaner nutzen dürfen
(June 30, 2025)
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 investigates the corporate machinery sustaining the Israeli settler-colonial project of displacement and replacement of the Palestinians in the occupied territory. While political leaders and Governments shirk their obligations, far too many corporate entities have profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now genocide. The complicity exposed by the report is just the tip of the iceberg; ending it will not happen without holding the private sector accountable, including# its executives. International law recognizes varying degrees of responsibility – each requiring scrutiny and accountability, particularly in this case, where a people’s self-determination and very existence are at stake. This is a necessary step to end the genocide and dismantle the global system that has allowed it.
In the present report, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 investigates the corporate machinery sustaining the Israeli settler-colonial project of displacement and replacement of the Palestinians in the occupied territory. While political leaders and Governments shirk their obligations, far too many corporate entities have profited from the Israeli economy of illegal occupation, apartheid and now genocide. The complicity exposed by the report is just the tip of the iceberg; ending it will not happen without holding the private sector accountable, including# its executives. International law recognizes varying degrees of responsibility – each requiring scrutiny and accountability, particularly in this case, where a people’s self-determination and very existence are at stake. This is a necessary step to end the genocide and dismantle the global system that has allowed it.
Are private companies liable under international law?
According to Albanese’s report, yes. Corporate entities are under an obligation to avoid violating human rights through direct action or in their business partnerships.
States have the primary responsibility to ensure that corporate entities respect human rights and must prevent, investigate and punish abuses by private actors. However, corporations must respect human rights even if the state where they operate does not.
A company must therefore assess whether activities or relationships throughout its supply chain risk causing human rights violations or contributing to them, according to the report.
The failure to act in line with international law may result in criminal liability. Individual executives can be held criminally liable, including before international courts.
As we’ve been reporting, UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese has named more than 60 companies, including major arms manufacturers and technology firms, in a report alleging their involvement in supporting Israeli settlements and military actions in Gaza, which she called a “genocidal campaign”.
Albanese compiled the report based on more than 200 submissions from states, human rights defenders, companies, and academics.
“While life in Gaza is being obliterated and the West Bank is under escalating assault, this report shows why Israel’s genocide continues: because it is lucrative for many,” Albanese wrote. She accused corporate entities of being “financially bound to Israel’s apartheid and militarism.”
(29. November 2018)
Was die Apps von Gotham für die Nutzer attraktiv machen dürfte, ist die Mischung aus Komfort, Einfachheit in der Bedienung, Schick und vermutlich auch ein Anteil von „Spaß und Spiel“. Denn solche modernen ‚Apps‘ machen dem Nutzer natürlich mehr Spaß als die altbackene, dröge Benutzeroberfläche der bisher genutzten polizeilichen Informationssysteme, die vor fünfzehn bis zwanzig Jahren entwickelt wurden. Mit den Apps von Gotham/Hessendata kann man auf einer grafischen Oberfläche mit Daten „herumspielen“, mal eine Idee ausprobieren und sich – „zeig mal, wohin diese Beziehung im grafischen Netzwerk führt“ – zeigen lassen, wohin die führt. Für einen Auswerter ist ein solches Werkzeug eine willkommene – und sinnvolle! – Unterstützung zur Aktivierung der eigenen Kreativität und Unterstützung der Hypothesenbildung. Gefährlich wird es, wenn solche „Gedankengänge“ von der Analyseplattform Horizon zurückgespeichert werden in den permanenten Speicher der Revisioning DB. Ich sehe darin die Gefahr, dass solche Gedankenspiele, also Hypothesen des Analytikers von echten, bewiesenen Fakten nicht mehr deutlich genug unterschieden werden können. Und polizeiliche bzw. strafrechtliche Entscheidungen zunehmend mehr auf Annahmen als auf Fakten basieren.
Mehrere Bundesländer – darunter Hamburg, Bremen und Thüringen – fordern eine europäische Alternative zu dem umstrittenen System, das Sicherheitsbehörden automatisierten Zugriff auf vielfältige personenbezogene Daten gewährt. Doch unionsgeführte Länder wie Bayern, Hessen und Nordrhein-Westfalen nutzen die Technik bereits.
(…)
Auch in militärischen Strukturen hat Palantir längst Fuß gefasst. Am Mittwoch gab die Nato bekannt, dass ihr operatives Hauptquartier in Brüssel künftig mit dem „Maven Smart System“ (MSS) arbeiten werde – einer KI-gestützten Planungssoftware, die das US-Unternehmen entwickelt hat.
(…)
Das US-Militär setzt das „Maven“-System längst ein, auch an Standorten in Deutschland.
Palantir arbeitet schon heute mit den Polizeien in Hessen, Hamburg und Nordrhein-Westfalen eng zusammen. In welchem Ausmaß und mit welchen Palantir-Softwarefunktionen und wie genau dabei auch höchst sensible Informationen über Menschen verarbeitet werden, ist öffentlich nicht einsehbar und strukturell geheim. Wie die namensgebenden Palantíri in Tokiens „Der Herr der Ringe“ bleiben die Softwaresysteme des Konzerns in geheimen Räumen, nur konzerneigene Hüter haben echten Zugang. Der Konzern Palantir entzieht sich der öffentlichen Diskussion weitgehend und damit der Rechenschaft.
(…)
Es ist daher nicht länger die Frage, ob die Systeme von Palantir und Co. ethisch und rechtlich problematisch sind und gesellschaftsfeindlich und demokratiezerstörend eingesetzt werden könnten, sondern wie dies verhindert werden kann.
(January 27, 2025)
Der Antragsentwurf der Christenunion hat es in sich: In Deutschland soll nicht nur bei Fragen der Einreise und des Asyls eine Politik im Stile Donald Trumps mit massiven Verschärfungen beginnen. Auch ein ganzer Überwachungskatalog soll Wirklichkeit werden. Neben mehreren Vorhaben von technisierter Massenüberwachung ist auch der Ausbau staatlichen Hackings vorgesehen, dazu mehr Befugnisse für Polizei und Geheimdienste.
Die Fülle an Vorhaben begründet die Union mit den zurückliegenden Morden von Tätern mit psychischen Auffälligkeiten in Magdeburg und Aschaffenburg und mit der „ernüchternden innenpolitischen Bilanz nach drei Jahren Regierung Scholz“, wie es im Antrag heißt.
(…)
Die wenigen Abgeordneten des Bundestags, die in Überwachungsfragen der Geheimdienste Einblick bekommen, sollte das beunruhigen. Denn die Kontrolle durch das Parlament ist schon heute unterentwickelt und kaum praktikabel. Parlamentarische Untersuchungsausschüsse des Bundestags, die wegen Geheimdienstskandalen immer wieder bemüht werden mussten, haben gezeigt: Das Stochern im Nebel hat System. Wenn nun noch mehr Auflagen „zurückgeführt werden“, läuft die Geheimdienstkontrolle ins Leere.
(02.04.2024)
With the onslaught of new wars, Congress added $70 billion over the last two years to an already bloated Pentagon budget, much of which is funneled directly into the coffers of defense contractors like Palatir, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman. The stock values in these companies have since experienced double-digit growth – a lucrative business opportunity not overlooked by lawmakers calling the shots.
At least 25 members of Congress sitting on national security committees have simultaneously purchased stock in these very same companies. The majority of these members sit on the Senate and House Armed Services committees, the entities responsible for overseeing the Defense Department budget and contracts.
(23 August 2023)
“It is disgusting and disappointing to hear that arms companies will be sponsoring talks at the Labour Party conference,” Emily Apple, media coordinator at Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT), told openDemocracy. “These companies should not be given this legitimacy or the opportunity to lobby policy makers in order to continue making profits for their shareholders from a deadly trade that causes destruction and misery around the world.”
She added: “Accepting sponsorship from these companies sends a bleak message to anyone thinking a future Labour government will adopt any kind of ethical stance towards the arms trade.”
Open Democracy reported that Boeing, Babcock International, and Palantir, will join fossil fuels firms, private healthcare companies, and banks as sponsors at the conference, which takes place in Liverpool this October. Many of the fringe events will be hosted by The New Statesman Media Group.
Boeing, one of the largest US arms companies, manufactures the land-based Minutemen Intercontinental Ballistic Missile for the US Air Force. The UK-based Babcock, which operates the Devonport dockyard in Plymouth, has been involved in designing components for and maintaining Britain’s nuclear-armed fleet for over 50 years.
Auch die innenpolitische Sprecherin der Linksfraktion, Martina Renner, begrüßt die Entscheidung des Bundes, von Palantir abzurücken. Sie fordert im BR-Interview eigenständige Entwicklungen der Behörden, bei denen man über den Quellcode verfügt: „Das hat den großen Vorteil, dass man dann genau weiß, was das Programm macht.“
Das Bayerische Innenministerium betont, die anderen Bundesländer könnten weiterhin den bayerischen Rahmenvertrag nutzen, um Leistungen von Palantir abzurufen.
Die Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte e.V. (GFF) hat am 6. Oktober Verfassungsbeschwerde gegen einen Paragrafen des NRW Polizeigesetzes beim Bundesverfassungsgericht eingelegt. Dieser ermögliche die Erstellung umfassender Persönlichkeitsprofile durch die automatisierte Auswertung von zahlreichen Datenbeständen. Er verstoße damit gegen das Grundrecht auf informationelle Selbstbestimmung. Die Bürgerrechtsorganisation fordert in ihrer Verfassungsbeschwerde (PDF) strengere Voraussetzungen und eine zureichende Verfahrenssicherung des Grundrechtseingriffs.
The firm only acquired its first commercial manufacturing plant in March 2021, located in Boston, MA and purchased from Sanofi, followed shortly thereafter by the acquisition of another separate plant located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Makeovers were announced for the plants, but little is publicly known about their progress. Prior to the acquisitions, the company had been subleasing a Bay area facility in Fremont, California. Reporters were puzzled at the time as to why a company with roughly 700 employees at the time had acquired a total of 599,00 square feet of manufacturing space after having only emerged from stealth less than 6 months prior.
In April 2021, National Resilience acquired Ology Bioservices Inc., which had received a $37 million contract from the US military the previous November to develop an advanced anti-COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment. This acquisition also provided National Resilience with its first Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory and the ability to manufacture cell and gene therapies, live viral vaccines and vectors and oncolytic viruses.
Despite being in the earliest stages of developing its “revolutionary” manufacturing capabilities, National Resilience entered into a partnership with the Government of Canada in July of last year.
– Many Tory MPs are ‚horrified‘ by proposals to introduce mandatory passports
– They say it will create a ‚two-class society‘ and plan to block the plans
– Britons with both Covid-19 jabs can now add vaccine certificate to Apple Wallet
– ‚Get your NHS Covid Pass‘ section of the NHS App leads to ‚domestic‘ or ‚travel‘
– ‚Domestic‘ section will display name, date of birth and QR code confirming jabs
– ‚Travel‘ section has same information along with nine extra details for each dose
– Lib Dems: Government has ‚introduced Covid ID Cards by stealth onto phones‘
Experts said it meant the national statistics, published daily on the government website and frequently referred to by ministers, may far overstate the levels of pressures on the NHS.
The leaked data – covering all NHS trusts in England – show that, as of last Thursday, just 44 per cent of patients classed as being hospitalised with Covid had tested positive by the time they were admitted.
The NHS COVID-19 Data Store sits on a Microsoft Azure platform under contract with NHS England and NHS Improvement. Within that secure cloud processing environment, Palantir (acting under instruction from NHS England) manage their platform which is called Foundry.
Palantir, have built analytical dashboards for access by NHS England and Improvement staff, together with staff in the following organisations working under contract: Faculty AI, McKinsey and Deloittes.
(10.05.2020)
Palantir was co-founded in 2004 by Paypal owner and billionaire Peter Thiel. What the blog doesn’t reveal is that Palantir’s client list has included amomgst others, the CIA, the FBI, the NSA, the Centre for Disease Control, the Marine Corps, the Air Force, Special Operations Command, West Point and the IRS.
Furthermore, in 2016, it was revealed Palantir had a $34.6m contract with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and helped the Customs and Border Protection Agency create the Analytical Framework for Intelligence (AFI) system to track immigrants.
Nor does the blog mention that Palantir worked for UK intelligence and was awarded contracts to handle vast data sets on UK citizens for British spy agency GCHQ.
Die Polizei in Nordrhein-Westfalen nutzt Software von Palantir zur Datenanalyse, um schneller gegen Straftaten vorzugehen. Darin erkennt die Landesdatenschutzbeauftragte unzulässiges Data-Mining. Für das NRW-Innenministerium ist das alles nur ein Missverständnis.
(…)