Press release: UK Govt must listen to MPs’ call for end to Palantir contract
Today, the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Select Committee called on the Government to end NHS England’s contract with US spy tech firm Palantir.
MPs on the influential, cross party committee described Palantir as “the most concerning example of the public sector’s growing reliance on a small number of major technology providers,” also citing Microsoft and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
They urged the Government “to exercise the 2027 break clause in the NHS Federated Data Platform Contract with Palantir and either develop an in-house replacement or seek an alternative UK provider.”
The Government is under increasing pressure to reverse Palantir’s growing role in the UK state, with many MPs expressing concerns over its role in supporting Donald Trump’s ICE immigration agents and the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza – and pointing to controversial comments from its leadership, including founder and chair Peter Thiel who has said he does not believe democracy and freedom are compatible.
Tech justice non-profit Foxglove has previously taken legal action which has forced greater transparency and public consultation from the Government over its NHS Palantir contracts. Foxglove also coordinates the No Palantir In Our NHS Campaign.
Responding to the Committee’s call, Martha Dark, Co-Executive Director at Foxglove said:
“The Government must listen to the Committee’s urgent call to kick Palantir out of our NHS. MPs across parties, NHS staff, and a growing swathe of the public are united in their belief that a firm like this should have no part in our public services.
“The Government has been far too happy to give Trump-supporting, US tech giants a central role in our state, with little thought for the result: that this puts us at the mercy of an increasingly hostile White House, and its megalomaniacal billionaire supporters in the tech sector.
“Firms like Palantir have thrown their vast resources behind extensive lobbying and influence operations – assisted by Peter Mandelson’s PR firm – which have come close to capturing the British state. It’s high time ministers realised that they answer to the UK public, not to Peter Thiel and his friends in Silicon Valley.”
ENDS
For further information, please email press[AT]foxglove.org.uk