Palantir hires Jon Tester as Democrats vow to investigate it : NPR

Key Points:

• Tech companies, anticipating increased scrutiny from incoming Democratic majorities in Congress, are hiring former Democratic lawmakers and aides to improve their standing, with Palantir recently hiring ex-Senator Jon Tester as an advisor.
• Palantir, a software and AI firm criticized by Democrats for alleged involvement in mass surveillance and controversial contracts with agencies like ICE, denies these claims, asserting it does not collect or manipulate data but provides tools for organizing information.
• Senator Ron Wyden and other Democrats have raised concerns about Palantir's government contracts and surveillance activities, with Wyden prepared to use compulsory measures if the company remains uncooperative.
• Palantir’s CEO Alex Karp, despite being a self-described liberal, has expressed support for restrictive immigration policies, while Tester, a privacy advocate, maintains that Palantir respects privacy and differs from mass surveillance practices.
• With over $2 billion in federal contracts, Palantir primarily serves defense and homeland security agencies, and Tester aims to focus on its government services work amidst expectations that the new Congress will oppose aggressive immigration enforcement tactics like those seen under ICE.