Tuesday briefing: Palantir’s rise – and why so many oppose its role in the British state

Few companies stir as much controversy as Palantir, the US data analytics firm co-founded by tech billionaire and Trump ally Peter Thiel. Since the pandemic, the company has experienced voracious growth, leveraging its AI-driven software to analyze complex datasets for a global clientele. Its products are now widely used, propelling the business to a staggering $375 billion valuation.

Palantir's rise has been marked by noise and contention. Founded in 2003 in the wake of 9/11, the company's eclectic client list includes the Israeli military, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) for analyzing patient records, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The US military also utilizes Palantir's software for targeting operations, particularly in Iran.

Adding to the controversy, Palantir's co-founder and CEO, Alex Karp, published a widely criticized manifesto earlier this year, which implied certain cultures are inferior to others. This, coupled with the company's involvement in sensitive government and military operations, has fueled growing opposition and scrutiny.

Beyond Palantir's specific activities, the criticism reflects broader concerns about the ethical implications of powerful AI and data analytics companies operating within state apparatuses. The company's name, derived from J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy novels, evokes a "seeing stone" used for communication and surveillance, a parallel that resonates with the anxieties surrounding its pervasive technological reach.

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Few companies attract controversy more than Palantir.