Christine Tongue: The campaign saying no to US data firm Palantir’s NHS contract

Palantir, founded in 2003, is a US data analytics company contracted by for the NHS to provide a data platform bringing together information from across the health service so hospitals can analyse it more easily and improve how care is delivered

This involves monitoring things such as waiting lists, hospital supplies, and available beds and operating theatres.

But a new report, published this week, from the Labour-led Science, Innovation and Technology Committee says Palantir shouldn’t play such a significant role in the UK public sector, stressing that it’s not the only company capable of providing the ‘middleware’ required by public bodies.

The cross-party committee identifies Palantir as the most concerning example of the public sector’s growing reliance on a small number of major technology providers, including Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.

MPs on the committee are urging the government to exercise a 2027 break clause in the NHS Federated Data Platform Contract with Palantir and either develop an in-house replacement or seek an alternative UK provider.

Palantir’s system helps manage hospital resources, potentially reducing surgery wait times and speeding up cancer diagnoses.

But there has been a swell of opposition with the British Medical Association (BMA) and UNISON among those opposing the rollout due to Palantir’s corporate track record, data privacy concerns, and involvement in defence/surveillance outside the UK.

Here, Christine Tongue talks to QEQM doctor Rachel Hallam about her concerns and the No Palantir in Kent campaign.

Anyone who is old and a bit decrepit knows that having a well-functioning NHS is vital. Which is why I was giving out leaflets last week about the government’s openness to US giant IT company Palantir taking over organising our data in the NHS.

I talked to Rachel Hallam, one of our QEQM doctors who explained what her worries are. And why she cares about the future of the NHS.

Rachel: “I have worked as a resident doctor for East Kent Hospitals since 2020. It is a privilege to provide healthcare that is free at the point of use but I have seen the NHS used as mechanism for profit-making since the Health and Social Care Act of 2012.

As it has become increasingly fragmented, I have seen a deterioration in the quality of care we are able to provide. Kent and Medway NHS have already spent £409.1 million on private companies in the last 2 years, amounting to £37.3 million leaking out solely in profits for these companies.”

What is Palantir and what do they do?

“Palantir is a Florida-based US tech company that has been awarded at £330million contract (reportedly now worth £1bn) to run the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP), essentially a software module that integrates patient data across already existing IT systems.”

To the general public, like me, that sounds like a good idea. But the problem with Palantir is its other work and the philosophy of its owners, neither of which fits with what most of us want from our public services.

Why not let a private company organise NHS data?

Rachel (pictured) explains: “Technologies of surveillance are deeply embedded in Palantir’s operations which have helped ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), the UK police, and the IDF (Israeli Defence Force).

“Peter Thiel, the CEO of Palantir has openly criticised the NHS for being part of a welfare state that is free for all. Thiel initially worked with the NHS as part of its contact tracing programme during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paved the way for NHS England signing for a mandatory roll-out of Palantir’s “Federated Data Platform” (FDP) in 2023.

“ However, since announcing the dismantling of NHS England in 2025, individual NHS trusts are no longer legally required to do this. In Manchester, the NHS trusts decided to keep their FDP in-house.”

I asked who are Palantir’s controversial customers?

Rachel, who is a pro Palestine campaigner, said “Palantir’s software is being used in the war on Gaza and the targeting of Palestinians with particular characteristics.

“Palantir’s CEO, Alex Karp, says he is “exceedingly proud” of Palantir’s involvement in what he calls “operationally crucial operations in Israel”. Palantir recently launched an AIP (Artificial Intelligence Platform), which claims to be able to analyse enemy targets and propose battle plans.”

I asked: why should are there doubts about the owners of Palantir?

“Peter Thiel is closely associated with Jeffery Epstein and Peter Mandelson – part of the circles of corruption that are rapidly coming to light in the UK and the US.”

What might be the long term effects of involving Palantir in our NHS?

“Palantir is an unacceptable partner for the NHS. The FDP, especially with Palantir leading, will damage patient trust in health data and furthers capacity for state surveillance, especially against minoritised patients.

“The contract with Palantir furthers the outsourcing, privatisation and asset stripping of the NHS.”

What’s the campaign you’re involved in?

“The No Palantir in Kent is a local subsidiary of the Medact and Amnesty International “No Palantir in the NHS” campaigns. We are a group of health workers and members of the community who are deeply concerned by the prospect of Palantir technologies becoming embedded in our NHS.”

What would you like us to do?