Palantir’s Tom Watson says ‘mob rule’ must not dictate awarding of government contracts
Former Labour deputy leader says tech firm would work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns Tom Watson, the former Labour deputy leader who recently joined Palantir, has warned against “mob rule” when it comes to awarding public contracts. Lord Watson, now a senior vice-president at the US tech corporation, said UK ministers could get themselves “in a lot of trouble” as he was…
Tom Watson, once a Labour deputy leader, has joined the US tech firm Palantir as a senior vice-president. He warned against "mob rule" dictating the awarding of government contracts in the UK. Lord Watson cautioned that the government could "get themselves in a lot of trouble" if it relied on public opinion rather than the rule of law.
Palantir, co-founded by Trump supporter Peter Thiel, has previously provided AI software to the Israeli military and the US ICE immigration crackdown, leading to backlash. The company is currently involved in a dispute with London Mayor Sadiq Khan over a £50m contract for a Metropolitan police AI system. Despite the controversy, Watson expressed willingness to work with a Reform UK government on immigration crackdowns if called upon.
Palantir aims to deepen the social and economic value of its work by improving public services, jobs, and skills in the UK. The Labour MP Chi Onwurah, who chairs a science, innovation, and technology committee, highlighted concerns about Palantir's dependence on one company, noting that the company is a US entity subject to US data access legislation.
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