Calls to halt UK Palantir contracts grow amid 'lack of transparency' over deals.
Opposition politicians have urged the government to scrap public contracts with US tech firm Palantir, citing a lack of transparency over its dealings with Peter Mandelson and concerns about the company's ties to controversial figures such as Jeffrey Epstein. The British Medical Association has already expressed doubts about Palantir's effectiveness in handling sensitive NHS data.
Since 2023, Palantir has secured more than £500 million in contracts with the National Health Service (NHS) and Ministry of Defence (MoD), while its Global Counsel lobbying firm employed Mandelson as a consultant. Emails revealed that Mandelson sought help from Epstein to find wealthy clients for his lobbying firm.
The government has repeatedly blocked attempts by MPs and campaigners to scrutinise Palantir's deals, including requests for information about meetings between the company's leadership with Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson. Starmer this week announced plans to release documents relating to Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US, but exemptions have been granted for material that may affect national security and international relations.
The UK government is facing growing pressure over Palantir's expanding use of AI-powered technology in British policing. The company also provides military technology to Israel's Defense Forces and has ties to Trump-backed billionaire Peter Thiel, who had a relationship with Epstein.
A Liberal Democrat MP has called for a parliamentary debate on the suitability of Palantir as a supplier to critical national infrastructure, while the Green party leader has urged the health secretary to break a £330 million contract between Palantir and the NHS.
Opposition politicians have urged the government to scrap public contracts with US tech firm Palantir, citing a lack of transparency over its dealings with Peter Mandelson and concerns about the company's ties to controversial figures such as Jeffrey Epstein. The British Medical Association has already expressed doubts about Palantir's effectiveness in handling sensitive NHS data.
Since 2023, Palantir has secured more than £500 million in contracts with the National Health Service (NHS) and Ministry of Defence (MoD), while its Global Counsel lobbying firm employed Mandelson as a consultant. Emails revealed that Mandelson sought help from Epstein to find wealthy clients for his lobbying firm.
The government has repeatedly blocked attempts by MPs and campaigners to scrutinise Palantir's deals, including requests for information about meetings between the company's leadership with Keir Starmer and Boris Johnson. Starmer this week announced plans to release documents relating to Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US, but exemptions have been granted for material that may affect national security and international relations.
The UK government is facing growing pressure over Palantir's expanding use of AI-powered technology in British policing. The company also provides military technology to Israel's Defense Forces and has ties to Trump-backed billionaire Peter Thiel, who had a relationship with Epstein.
A Liberal Democrat MP has called for a parliamentary debate on the suitability of Palantir as a supplier to critical national infrastructure, while the Green party leader has urged the health secretary to break a £330 million contract between Palantir and the NHS.
. I mean, what's with all these connections to shady characters like Epstein? It just doesn't feel right. And now they're using AI tech in policing? That sounds like a recipe for disaster, if you ask me. We need more transparency here, not less 
. The NHS is already dealing with so many issues, do we really want them tied up with some dodgy US company? 
I'm all for innovation and progress, but sometimes you just have to take a step back and ask if it's worth the risk... 
. It just makes me wonder what other things we could learn from nature. And speaking of learning, I'm gonna start taking beekeeping classes soon, who's gonna help me build my first hive? 
they prob dont even know whats goin on. like, mandelson worked with epstein, big deal. u think thats gonna affect healthcare? NHS is more worried about funding & staff shortages than some dodgy consultant 
also, what r the alternatives? palantir's got skills in data analysis or watever 
and it's crazy how the gov's been dodgy about transparency... like what's going on with mandelson and epstein? shouldn't we know more about these "business deals" 
and it's messed up that they're blocking MPs from getting info. meanwhile, AI tech in policing is a big concern - can we trust companies like palantir to keep our data safe? 
.
. I think it's time for some real scrutiny and accountability from our government officials 