Healthcare campaigners turn up the heat on Palantir at Labour conference

Healthcare campaigners are planning protests at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool and across London to call for the UK government to reconsider its contract with Palantir, a US spy-tech company. MedAct and Just Treatment, two health justice charities, are leading the opposition. The groups argue that extending the contract, valued at up to £330 million over seven years, would leave the public sector seriously exposed to vendor lock-in.

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee recently urged the government not to extend the contract, advocating for an in-house alternative or a UK provider instead. Palantir won the £330 million FDP contract in November 2023, with NHS England maintaining the selection process was open and fair. The platform aims to link data from various systems to improve hospital efficiency and tackle care backlogs.

However, critics question the evidence supporting the platform's performance. The BMA, UNISON, and the United Tech and Allied Workers Union are among the organizations opposing the rollout, citing concerns over patient trust, data security, and the company's track record in surveillance and human rights abuses. Palantir asserts its software benefits UK public bodies, stating the data remains NHS property and any disclosure would violate their contract.