Sadiq Khan blocks £50m Met police deal with Palantir
lbc.co.uk • • world
Key Points:
- The Mayor of London has criticized Scotland Yard for a “clear and serious breach” of procurement rules after it sought to use Palantir’s AI technology without proper competitive engagement, raising concerns over value for money and ethical considerations.
- Palantir, a controversial software company founded by Peter Thiel, has expanded its contracts across UK public services, including the NHS, Ministry of Defence, and recently the Metropolitan Police, which trialed its AI to monitor staff behavior and identify misconduct.
- The Metropolitan Police Federation has strongly opposed the use of AI surveillance on officers, arguing it undermines trust, damages morale, and constitutes an unjust invasion of privacy, despite the police leadership highlighting successful investigations into corrupt behavior.
- Palantir recently committed £1.5 billion to establish its UK headquarters for defense operations, creating 350 high-skilled jobs, and has secured contracts such as one with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority to analyze internal intelligence data.