Palantir’s Tom Watson says ‘mob rule’ must not dictate awarding of government contracts

Former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson, now a senior vice-president at Palantir, has cautioned against allowing "mob rule" to influence the awarding of public contracts in the UK. His comments come amid growing concerns regarding the government's collaboration with the tech firm, which has faced scrutiny for its ties to controversial projects.

Palantir, co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, has been criticized for its provision of AI-powered software to the Israeli military and its involvement in the White House’s ICE immigration crackdown. This has led to significant public and political backlash against its expanding role in British public services.

The UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham is under pressure from Labour MPs and unions to terminate Palantir's government contracts, including a notable £330 million software deal with the NHS. Additionally, Palantir is currently in a legal dispute with Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, over a £50 million contract related to its AI technology in Metropolitan police investigations.