By Cicero’s Newsroom
Palantir’s Shadow?: UK Police Use of Controversial Data Software Shrouded in Secrecy
The Metropolitan Police has refused to confirm or deny whether it has used software developed by Palantir Technologies, the controversial U.S. data analytics company increasingly embedded in law enforcement and public services worldwide.
In response to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request seeking details of any Palantir contracts over the last five years, the Met avoided a direct answer, citing exemptions that allow authorities to withhold information in the interests of law enforcement and national security. The response means it remains unclear whether the UK’s largest police force is actively deploying Palantir’s Gotham platform or similar tools.
Background: A Company Built for Surveillance
Founded in 2003 by billionaire Peter Thiel and others from Silicon Valley, Palantir built its reputation supplying counterterrorism and intelligence tools for U.S. agencies in the wake of 9/11. Its Gotham software is designed to knit together vast streams of information—GPS records, financial transactions, social media activity, police databases—into actionable intelligence dashboards.
In the U.S., the technology is widely used by agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting fears of “surveillance by dashboard.” More recently, the company has expanded into domestic policing in Europe, with Palantir’s “Hessendata” project trialled by German police forces, sparking a heated privacy debate.
The UK Connection
Palantir has already made inroads into British institutions. Its Foundry software underpinned NHS England’s data integration strategy during the Covid-19 vaccination rollout—a contract that was extended despite protests from doctors, unions and patient privacy groups. In August, Coventry City Council announced a £500,000-a-year contract with Palantir to apply AI in children’s social care, raising further ethical concerns.
In policing, evidence of Palantir’s role is murkier. The FOI document highlights that Palantir’s systems are listed as available for purchase on official government procurement frameworks. It also notes that the Metropolitan Police previously trialled Palantir software as early as 2010 in partnership with other constabularies including Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester Police.
Yet when pressed, the Met stopped short of confirming whether the technology is currently in use. The refusal to clarify fuels suspicion among privacy campaigners that Palantir’s tools may already be quietly embedded in frontline policing.
Critics Warn of “Secret Surveillance State”
Civil liberties groups argue the lack of transparency is itself dangerous. “If the Met won’t even confirm whether they use Palantir, how can the public have any confidence their data rights are being respected?” asked one campaigner.
Palantir insists it does not conduct surveillance directly, but provides lawful software for clients to manage and interpret data. Yet critics point out that without robust oversight, such tools could enable predictive policing, discriminatory targeting, or unchecked state surveillance.
A Democratic Blind Spot
Palantir’s rapid rise in Britain mirrors its trajectory in the U.S., where it has become a go-to contractor for everything from defence to tax investigations. With police forces and councils across the UK now considering its products, questions remain about accountability.
For now, the Met’s “neither confirm nor deny” stance keeps Palantir’s role in British policing firmly in the shadows. But as the FOI request shows, public pressure for transparency is only growing.
The unanswered question lingers: is Palantir already watching Britain’s streets?
