Palantir’s Tom Watson says ‘mob rule’ must not dictate awarding of government contracts
Summary
Tom Watson, a former UK Labour politician now working for the US tech company Palantir, warned against letting public protests influence how government contracts are given. Palantir faces criticism in the UK because of its work with the US government and Israeli military, which has led to pressure to end its UK government contracts.Key Facts
- Tom Watson joined Palantir as a senior vice-president after leaving UK politics.
- Palantir provides advanced software using artificial intelligence (AI) to governments and militaries.
- The company has contracts with the UK government, including a £330 million deal with the NHS.
- Some Labour MPs and unions want the UK government to stop working with Palantir due to its controversial ties.
- Palantir is involved in a legal dispute with London Mayor Sadiq Khan over a £50 million police contract.
- Watson said decisions about government contracts should follow the law, not public protests ("mob rule").
- Palantir’s work has sparked protests because of its connections to Israeli military activities.
- Labour MP Chi Onwurah expressed concern about relying too much on a US company that must follow US laws on data access.
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