Tim Walker

Mandrake

Palantir’s Pals

As Peter Thiel’s spy tech outfit Palantir sucks still more of our most intimate data out of the NHS after winning its £330 million “federated data platform” government contract, it’s striking how few questions are being asked in the Commons about what it’s doing with its new-found knowledge.

Even the doughty Labour MP Dawn Butler can no longer quiz ministers about it, now she no longer sits on the Commons’ Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee. But she assures Mandrake that she’s watching closely and intends to table a written question on what – if any – “guardrails” have been placed around the controversial data firm.

The BMJ called for Palantir’s NHS contract to be cancelled after it began to play an active role in assisting Israel with its assault on Gaza. Former Observer journalist Carole Cadwalladr also used a recent appearance on America’s The Daily Show to warn that, without any regulations in place, Palantir could be leading us towards a surveillance state.

On this side of the Atlantic, it’s intriguing to see how immersed Palantir is in our political system.