So NYC’s public hospitals are ditching Palantir, but we’re still handing them the NHS. Why is that?

Posted by Goldenmentis@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 26 comments

New York’s public hospital system just announced they’re not renewing Palantir’s contract.

The same kind of scrutiny Palantir’s been getting here over NHS data deals... the Federated Data Platform, billions in taxpayer cash, and a company with a background in military surveillance and ICE contracts.

Meanwhile, in the UK, we’re doubling down. Palantir keeps expanding into government and health, and the usual response is “but it saves money and cuts waiting lists.” Are our politicians actively ignoring the red flags because Palantir’s lobbyists are that good?

And before anyone says “it’s just data analytics”. NYC’s contract wasn’t even for clinical AI. It was for recovering money. Billing, fraud detection, cost cutting. They still walked away.

What exactly would it take for the UK to do the same? A data breach? A leak? Or do we just not care as long as the spreadsheet looks efficient?

Genuinely curious how people here feel about Palantir having their NHS records in their system.

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

As sceptical of the NHS-Palantir contract(s) as we may all be, a different contract to do a different thing for a different client not being renewed just isn't very relevant to procurement. That happens all the time. A supplier doesn't lose all its clients and immediately go bust just because one contract is not renewed.

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deHaga@reddit

What does Palantir actually do? I've heard it described as a platform that can sit on top of all legacy systems and integrate the data, why is it so nefarious?

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

It's a tech company rather than a technology. I think the main causes of concern are the people and politics associated with them, and various views they've expressed.

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deHaga@reddit

I read they cosplay as military in their internal emails, using terms like FYSA For Your Situational Awareness instead of FYI

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

Well I don't know about them but military terms leak into military/MOD contractor comms in the UK too.

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deHaga@reddit

Bit performative for a civilian tech company tho

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PracticeNo8733@reddit

Palantir have major military contracts. In similar tech companies in the UK you'll also see military terminology along the same sort of lines. I wouldn't care to speculate as to the exact balance of causes for it but some of it is just that it's normal to conform to your client's practices and then habits stick.

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deHaga@reddit

💀

Founders talk about embedding forward-deployed engineers (FDEs) with customers, building deeply customized workflows, and operating more like a special-forces unit than a traditional software company. Job postings for “forward-deployed engineers” are up hundreds of percent this year as companies copy the model that Palantir pioneered in the early 2010s.

https://a16z.com/the-palantirization-of-everything/

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ActionBirbie@reddit

No facts, this is a circlejerk sub now, dontcha know!

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Ok_Yam_4023@reddit

I'm a bit green on this subject but concerned. What contracts do palantir have in the UK?

Goldenmentis@reddit (OP)

A £330 million, 7-year contract to build a centralised data platform for the NHS, intended to link up patient information to help manage things like waiting lists and hospital bed availability.

A £240 million contract with the MoD to provide data and AI software for "critical strategic, tactical and live operational decision making.

Beyond the giants, Palantir has contracts with the Cabinet Office, various police forces, and even local councils, like a £500,000 a year deal with Coventry City Council to use AI in children's social services..

3pelican@reddit

In my experience the platform isn’t even really that good

coomzee@reddit

I'm sure the FCA have a 'trial'; which basically entails sending them all our data.

Rossco1874@reddit

Scottish government kept them out of NHS systems. Not sure if is a precise reason but seems in hindsight it was a good idea to do so given recent events.

Not sure how long NHS England contract is as it is already few years in but it doesn't look too promising and could be costly to exit before the agreed contract end even then a full withdrawal seems unlikely

ProcedureGloomy6323@reddit

Because lobbyists

WheresWalldough@reddit

New York is one city which has elected a populist politician.

Meanwhile the UK is run by an incompetent bureaucrat.

lupesub@reddit

Money talks bro

DoNotCommentAgain@reddit

Because Tony Blair is mates with Peter Thiel and he's been using his influence to push it everywhere.

They have sinister plans, Blair is a moral crusader and people don't realise how dangerous he is.

quartersessions@reddit

Can we please keep American conspiracy theories out of the UK? We've got plenty of our own, thanks.

MissSephy@reddit

You need to make noise and your local politicians uncomfortable. Social media and posting on Reddit is not activism, bam up your local mp, write letters go to their surgeries.

If you know better tell them.

SuburbanBushwacker@reddit

we have the best representation money can buy

Orange_Codex@reddit

Are our politicians actively ignoring the red flags because Palantir’s lobbyists are that good?

No, they're ignoring the red flags because politics is how deeply unqualified people land private sector directorships.

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