A secretive conference co-founded by Peter Thiel, a tech billionaire criticized for Palantir’s work with the Israel Defense Forces, has been cancelled by its planned venue in Ireland. The event, which was set to discuss topics like world war preparations and battlefield technologies, faced significant backlash from pro-Palestine groups and opposition parties. Activists celebrated the cancellation as a victory for people power and warned other Irish venues against hosting similar events.
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Should he become the next Prime Minister, Andy Burnham is reportedly preparing to terminate the NHS’s £330 million contract with US technology company Palantir. This potential move is driven by concerns regarding the firm’s involvement in government technology and artificial intelligence strategy, amplified by its commercial ties to the Israeli Defense Forces and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While supporters of the Palantir platform cite its contributions to increased operations and faster diagnoses, critics raise ethical objections and argue that cancelling the contract could disrupt patient care improvements. A crucial contractual break clause is set to expire in March, requiring any decision to terminate the agreement to be communicated by December.
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The Spanish government has initiated a directive for state-controlled entities to blacklist U.S. data analytics firm Palantir Technologies due to concerns over national security and the potential misuse of classified information. This decision, impacting major entities like Telefónica and Indra, aims to prevent contracts that could compromise Spanish national sovereignty and mirrors similar pushback against Palantir across Europe. While Palantir maintains existing contracts with the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the government is also accelerating funding for domestic technology platforms in response to geopolitical tensions and a desire to preserve national data sovereignty.
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France’s domestic intelligence agency is in the process of replacing U.S. firm Palantir with French company ChapsVision, a move that signals a wider European push for technological sovereignty. This transition, prompted by security needs that first led to the adoption of Palantir’s platform after the 2015 Paris attacks, aims to reduce reliance on American technology. The shift is part of France’s broader strategy to develop domestic AI capabilities, mirrored by similar moves in Germany and ongoing debates in the UK regarding dependence on U.S. platforms. While this effort seeks to bolster European technological independence, some experts warn against premature abandonment of proven U.S. systems due to potential capability gaps in emerging European alternatives.
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France’s domestic intelligence service will replace US tech company Palantir’s AI data tools with those from French firm ChapsVision to avoid “strategic dependency” in the digital sphere. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that France must develop its own AI models and cannot rely on tools from foreign powers, citing concerns over potential access restrictions. This move aligns with broader European government anxieties about their reliance on US-controlled technologies. ChapsVision’s technology, which focuses on data collection, preparation, and analysis, has also reportedly been selected by Germany’s internal security service.
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France’s domestic intelligence agency will cease collaboration with American AI firm Palantir, citing a growing European concern over U.S. digital dependencies. This decision, announced by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, aligns with France’s €655 million investment in its own AI development to ensure strategic autonomy. The move follows Washington’s restriction of AI model access to non-U.S. users, highlighting a broader trend of European nations seeking independence in artificial intelligence, a sentiment echoed by calls from French presidential candidates and British lawmakers.
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Palantir’s legal challenge against a Swiss independent magazine, Republik, has largely failed, with the Zurich commercial court dismissing 22 out of 23 counterstatement requests. The technology company sought to force the publication to print its responses to articles detailing its inability to secure Swiss government contracts, which the journalists characterized as a “failure narrative.” The court found that only a single passage regarding the origins of Palantir’s Foundry software warranted a published rebuttal, ordering the company to pay the majority of court costs.
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The Dutch defense ministry is reportedly looking to sever ties with Palantir, a move that’s sparking a significant conversation about data privacy, national security, and the pervasive influence of technology companies. It’s somewhat disheartening to realize that this technology has already been integrated into defense operations, raising questions about the extent of its reach and the data that might have been shared. The comparison to Saruman’s “seeing-stones” in *The Lord of the Rings* isn’t entirely out of place, as the idea of powerful, unaccounted-for surveillance tools watching us can feel quite unsettling.
This decision by the Netherlands is being hailed by many as a positive step, a sign that a democracy is waking up to the potential dangers of unchecked global surveillance.… Continue reading
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has blocked a £50 million deal between the Metropolitan Police and US tech company Palantir, citing a serious breach of procurement rules. City Hall stated that the Met had exclusively engaged with Palantir, risking technological lock-in and failing to demonstrate value for money. The decision comes amidst growing public and political unease over Palantir’s expanding contracts with UK public services, with concerns also raised about the company’s ethics. Despite this blockage, a new procurement process is anticipated, allowing Palantir to bid again.
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Joe Rogan expressed strong disapproval of Palantir’s suggestion for a universal national military service. He questioned why a tech company involved with government data, including immigration and defense forces, would advocate for a draft, especially considering past conflicts. Rogan specifically challenged the idea of tech leaders initiating such a proposal without personal participation, suggesting their technology should instead focus on preventing wars. This sentiment arises as Palantir’s manifesto calls for national service as a duty, while the U.S. military draft remains a possibility for eligible men.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood