Palantir: MPs call for “shameful” NHS data deal to be scrapped

MPs have urged the UK government to scrap a “dreadful” and “shameful” £330m NHS contract with the controversial US tech giant Palantir during a Westminster debate.1Palantir, which also provides services to US immigration enforcement and the Israeli military, is contracted to create a federated data platform (FDP) for NHS England to help streamline health service data.But the deal has proved controversial, with concerns raised by the BMA2 and others over risks to patient trust, data security, and Palantir’s background with military and surveillance contracts.Earlier this week—amid reports that ministers were mulling scrapping the contract3—The BMJ revealed how data from pilots of the FDP, run at Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust and promoted as a Palantir success story, were flawed.4Against this backdrop MPs debated the FDP on 16 April, with several Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs urging the government to remove Palantir as the contract supplier. The debate was led by...