Key facts
- Andy Burnham, expected to be the next UK prime minister, reportedly plans to end Palantir's NHS contracts.
- The decision stems from concerns over Palantir's data practices and its ties to controversial US security agencies.
- Palantir's contract for the Federated Data Platform (FDP) is under review, with a break clause in February.
- Experts have welcomed the contract review, citing issues with market shaping and NHS data stewardship.
- Palantir claims its technology has improved patient care and cancer referral response times.
Andy Burnham, widely expected to become the next British prime minister, is reportedly planning to terminate Palantir's contracts with the National Health Service (NHS). The Telegraph reported that Burnham's team believes "unfettered tech boosterism" is alienating voters and is reviewing the government's overall artificial intelligence strategy.
Labour MPs and unions have previously called for the government to end Palantir's deal, citing concerns about its work with the Israeli military and U.S. immigration authorities. Palantir, founded with backing from a CIA-linked venture capital firm, provides technology to agencies like ICE.
Experts have welcomed the UK government's decision to review Palantir's contract for the Federated Data Platform (FDP), which is central to tackling the elective care backlog. Palantir initially received a £1 contract for pandemic data tools and later secured uncontested deals and a £330 million award for the FDP. NHS England defended the FDP contract, stating it would improve productivity.
However, attention has focused on a contractual break clause set for February. Lord Paul Drayson, a member of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, welcomed the review, suggesting the initial appointment of Palantir did not meet standards for clear rules and fair deals. Palantir stated its technology has already facilitated 110,078 additional patient procedures and improved cancer referral response times.
Experts at an OpenUK event expressed concern that the FDP deal reflected poor decisions in shaping the UK tech market and inadequate stewardship of NHS data. Mike Bracken, a former Cabinet Office executive director, criticized NHS England's 15-year failure to establish a standard health data taxonomy, which he argued allows single entities to control federated models.