{
  "id": 16009510,
  "title": "Palantir says it cannot shut off NATO AI system as Europeans fear US tech dependence",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/palantir-says-it-cannot-shut-off-nato-ai-system-as-europeans-fear-us",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-22T06:03:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CNA - Business",
    "slug": "cna-business",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/palantir-says-it-cannot-shut-nato-ai-system-europeans-fear-us-tech-dependence-6481646"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "BRUSSELS, Oct 22 : The US software firm Palantir has sought to allay European concerns that its military AI system, utilized by NATO, lacks a kill switch following recent disruptions to Ukraine's Starlink services. These disruptions have heightened fears about the continent's over-reliance on US technology firms. Ukraine reported last week that its use of the military-grade satellite service Starshield, which employs SpaceX's Starlink constellation, had been restricted, rendering terminals inoperable on fast-moving platforms and impeding tasks like deploying interceptor drones to counter Russian attacks. Conflicting explanations have emerged from US and Ukrainian officials and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk regarding the disruption. However, Ukrainian and European officials suspect a political motive, citing the move's timing after US President Donald Trump urged Ukraine to cease targeting Russian oil refineries. This concern among European policymakers has intensified, raising questions about the continent's susceptibility to US defense technology that could be temporarily disabled, impairing its defensive capabilities. Louis Mosley, Palantir's executive vice president for the UK and Europe, addressed these concerns in an interview with Reuters on Wednesday. He affirmed that neither Palantir nor the US government possesses the ability to deactivate the Maven Smart System AI platform used by NATO's military headquarters and several European armed forces. Mosley stated, \"There are no kill switches. There's no ability for Palantir or the US government to reach in and switch it off.\" The Maven system processes massive volumes of data from satellites, radars, and other sensors to furnish military officers with a comprehensive view of the battlefield and expedite decision-making. NATO acquired the Maven system for its Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in 2025, declaring it fully operational in June of the same year. Nevertheless, some European NATO members, including Germany and France, have declined to adopt Maven for their respective armed forces, citing apprehensions about relying on a US entity amid frequent tensions between Trump and European leaders. In April, the head of Germany's cyber command ruled out purchasing Maven, asserting that it was \"inconceivable\" for employees of a private firm to have access to the country's national military database. Mosley clarified that it ultimately rests with the customer whether Palantir personnel are involved in operating the system, emphasizing that such individuals would be citizens of the respective country and hold the necessary security clearance. He further added, \"It can absolutely be operated independently of us, and we have many, many customers around the world — both actually in the military and in the corporate world — who do that.\"",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}