Key facts
- Over 44,000 individuals have formally objected to their health data being handled by Palantir's Federated Data Platform (FDP).
- Objectors are using rights under data protection laws to demand the NHS stop using their data.
- Concerns include Palantir's work for the Israeli military and US immigration enforcement.
- NHS England stated that suppliers cannot access data for their own purposes and that organizations remain in control.
- The FDP is designed to connect health service data for purposes like reducing waiting lists and improving cancer diagnosis times.
Tens of thousands of individuals have formally lodged legal objections with NHS England, demanding that the national health service block Palantir's Federated Data Platform (FDP) from accessing and utilizing their personal health information. Over 44,000 people have exercised their rights under data protection laws to prevent their data from being shared with, stored by, or used by the platform, which is powered by US company Palantir's AI technology.
Campaigners and individuals have expressed significant concerns regarding Palantir's past work, including its contracts with the Israeli military and its role in US immigration enforcement under Donald Trump. These objections cite a lack of trust in data confidentiality due to Palantir's involvement. David Murray, one of the objectors and a retired IBM systems engineer, stated his belief in the importance of good patient data for the NHS but emphasized his dissatisfaction with Palantir's associations.
Human rights group Amnesty International has also voiced criticism, staging a protest outside Palantir's London headquarters. The group questioned the company's role in handling healthcare data, particularly in light of its technology's use in Gaza. Concerns have also been raised, acknowledged by NHS England chief executive Jim Mackey, that the claimed public health benefits of the FDP may be overstated.
Palantir maintains that its FDP is designed to connect various health service data points, such as surgery schedules and discharge planning, to improve patient care, reduce waiting lists, and free up hospital beds. Louis Mosley, Palantir's executive vice-president for UK and Europe, has defended the platform's utility, attributing opposition to "Palantir derangement syndrome" and citing statistics on additional operations and reduced discharge delays. Mosley also stated the technology was used for locating hostages, not military targeting in Gaza, though CEO Alex Karp previously responded to an allegation of Palantir's involvement in civilian deaths by stating, "Mostly terrorists, that's true."
The formal objections reference Article 21 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation, highlighting that Palantir's involvement undermines personal trust in NHS data confidentiality. Palantir asserts that patient data is handled strictly according to NHS instructions and remains within the UK. Veronica Hawking, campaigns director at 38 Degrees, which coordinated the objections, called the public backlash a "huge wake-up call for the government." A spokesperson for NHS England confirmed that all NHS organizations retain control over their data within the FDP and that suppliers cannot access it for their own purposes, promising to address the objection requests in line with data protection law. The objectors have also requested a halt to data processing through the Palantir platform while their requests are being assessed.