News|Israel-Palestine conflictBlood tech: The UK ambassador, the sex offender, Palantir, and GazaDespite its public objections to Israel’s actions, the UK is buying spyware developed and tested on Palestinians.

Palantir Technologies, a major US-based tech firm, has maintained significant partnerships with the United Kingdom government. Despite prior criticism, the UK has secured extensive contracts with Palantir, including a defense contract valued at £240 million ($323 million) in January and another contract worth £330 million ($444 million) involving the Ministry of Health in November 2023.

Palantir has an established presence in Israel, having opened its first office there in 2015. The company has been involved in data analysis and operational support for Israeli military activities in Gaza and the West Bank. Palantir's technology integrates various data sources to aid in military operations, prompting criticism from human rights organizations regarding its impact.

The relationship between former UK ambassador Peter Mandelson and Palantir has attracted scrutiny. Mandelson’s connections with Palantir are under review, particularly following his arrest related to the Epstein files. The UK government has faced calls for a comprehensive review of its contracts with Palantir due to these associations.

Palantir's involvement with the UK's National Health Service (NHS) began with a £1 emergency contract in March 2020 to assist with COVID-19 data management. This has expanded to a current contract valued at £23.5 million ($31.6 million). Concerns have been raised about Palantir's strategies to influence the NHS system and its broader intentions in the public sector.

The UK's reliance on Palantir for data management across multiple public sectors, including health and defense, has sparked debate over data privacy and security. Critics argue there is potential for vendor lock-in, emphasizing the need for due diligence to ensure compliance with legal and security standards.

Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.