The Single English County Saying No to Palantir
Greater Manchester's health board is refusing to adopt Palantir's federated data platform, citing concerns over public trust and the superiority of their existing local system. This resistance highlights a broader UK debate regarding the integration of US-based tech firms into national healthcare infrastructure.
Why it matters
It reflects growing international skepticism toward US tech giants in public sector roles, particularly concerning data sovereignty and privacy.
In 2023, the UK commissioned Palantir to develop a “federated data platform” (FDP) that could ingest and organize the tangle of health data produced across the country. According to Palantir and the NHS, the new system is already cutting wait times and the length of hospital stays, and maximizing the use of operating theatres.
But lately, as Palantir technology is deployed in theatres of war and the US administration’s immigration crackdown, its deal with the NHS has become a flashpoint in the UK, drawing protests, petitions, parliamentary inquiries, and a reported rebellion among NHS workers. Other European nations, increasingly at loggerheads with the Trump administration, are also reevaluating their relationships with Palantir in a bid to minimize their dependence on US-made technology.
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