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UK Government Awards Contracts to US Tech Giant Palantir Despite Criticism

The UK government has entered into extensive contracts with US tech giant Palantir, despite public criticism of the company’s involvement in Israel’s military operations. The contracts were awarded in January and November 2023, worth £240 million ($323m) and £330 million ($444m), respectively.

Palantir has partnered extensively with the Israeli military and its operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The company has also recruited veteran members of Israel’s cyber intelligence wing, Unit 8200, and has integrated its technology into Israeli command-and-control workflows.

The UK government has maintained a relationship with Palantir despite criticism from human rights researchers and senior figures at the United Nations, who argue that technologies like Palantir’s can shape the pace and scale of Israeli military operations. In May last year, Palantir CEO Alex Karp stated that his company supports Israel due to its role in the October 7th events in Gaza.

The UK government has also entered into a defence contract with Palantir directly, while another contract involving the Ministry of Health was awarded following a bidding process. The contents of the latter contract remain heavily redacted.

In January 2024, Palantir agreed to a “strategic partnership” with Israel, significantly stepping up its operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The company combines various data sets from intercepted communications, satellite, and online data to compile targeting lists for the Israeli military.

Palantir’s role in supporting US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has also been documented. The company has partnered extensively with the Israeli military and its operations in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

A spokesperson for Palantir UK stated that the company supports Israel due to its support for the West and its allies, including Israel.

Source: Al Jazeera