Key facts
- A second parliamentary committee has urged Labour to scrap Palantir's £330m contract with the NHS.
- MPs cited public mistrust, inadequate privacy protections, and contested benefits of Palantir's system.
- The committee recommended exercising a break clause in the deal and finding an alternative.
- Over 100 NHS data and technology workers also voiced concerns about the contract.
- Palantir's CEO has previously addressed criticisms regarding the company's technology.
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan previously blocked a contract with Palantir.
A second parliamentary committee has urged the Labour party to terminate a £330 million contract between the National Health Service (NHS) and the US tech company Palantir. The health and social care select committee cited significant public and medical profession mistrust, contested evidence of the system's benefits, and concerns over inadequate patient privacy protections.
MPs on the committee recommended that the NHS exercise a break clause in the contract, set to expire in February 2027, and seek an alternative solution, either an in-house developed system or a UK-based alternative. This call echoes similar sentiments from the science and technology committee last month. The committee's chair, Layla Moran, stated that the government's arguments for retaining the contract have weakened, emphasizing the need to maintain public confidence and data security.
Up to 117 NHS data and technology workers have also publicly opposed the deal, warning that a loss of public trust could compromise the quality of vital health data. One anonymous signatory described Palantir's software as "frankly mediocre" and questioned its ethical implications, given the company's work for military and immigration enforcement agencies.
Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel, has faced scrutiny over its work with various governments, including the US military, Israeli military, and UK military. Palantir's CEO, Alex Karp, has previously responded to criticisms regarding the use of its technology. In May, London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a £50 million contract with Palantir for the Metropolitan police, citing concerns that the company did not share the city's values.
Palantir's UK and Europe chief, Louis Mosley, has defended the contract, arguing that critics prioritize ideology over patient safety and that the technology has improved patient care, including facilitating additional operations and reducing discharge delays. Palantir stated that its software is controlled by NHS trusts and that data processing adheres strictly to their instructions.
The health workers union, Unison, has also called for the contract's discontinuation, emphasizing the need for the NHS to retain ownership and control over sensitive patient data systems.