London Mayor Sadiq Khan has agreed to have his text messages and emails searched as part of a legal battle with Palantir. The technology company is suing Khan's office after he blocked a £50 million deal with the Metropolitan police.
The legal battle and the search of communications highlight the ongoing tensions between technology companies seeking to provide AI solutions for law enforcement and public officials concerned about procurement processes, data privacy, and ethical considerations.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has agreed to have his text messages and emails searched as part of a legal battle with Palantir, the high court was informed. The dispute arose after Khan blocked a £50 million deal between the US technology company and the Metropolitan police in May.
Palantir is suing Khan's office over the decision. Legal representatives for the mayor initially stated that searching Khan's communications was not necessary, but relented due to Palantir's persistence. Khan and over a dozen other officials from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) and the Greater London Authority will be designated as 'custodians'. This designation means their digital communications, including text messages, WhatsApp, and Microsoft Teams chats, will be searched for information relevant to the legal dispute and disclosed to Palantir.
Sarah Brown, Khan's former director of communications who now works for the prime minister, will also have her correspondence searched. Palantir had cited press articles regarding the veto of the Met deal, which mentioned concerns about Palantir's values and ethics, and Mopac confirmed Brown initiated press briefings about the move. The proposed two-year deal would have enabled Palantir to provide AI technology for automating intelligence analysis in criminal investigations.
Mopac had previously stated there was a "clear and serious breach" of procurement rules, arguing that police had considered only one supplier. Palantir accused Khan of "putting politics above public safety" before announcing its intention to sue in June. The specific date range for the communication searches is still to be determined. Mopac is reportedly seeking to view Palantir's internal documents related to the deal, which the company is said to be resisting.