(José Niño, Headline USA) The Trump White House is reportedly awarding lucrative contracts to Palantir, a tech firm at the center of a growing debate over government surveillance and civil liberties.
The New York Times recently published a report detailing the administration’s contracts with Palantir, a controversial tech firm that is allegedly assisting Trump in developing a database of Americans’ private information. This data, collected from various government agencies, could theoretically be used to track or target individuals.
According to the New York Times:
Creating detailed portraits of Americans based on government data is not just a pipe dream. The Trump administration has already sought access to hundreds of data points on citizens and others through government databases, including their bank account numbers, the amount of their student debt, their medical claims and any disability status. Mr. Trump could potentially use such information to advance his political agenda by policing immigrants and punishing critics, Democratic lawmakers and critics have said.
Per a report by opinion blogger Ja’han Jones, the White House did not respond to the Times’ request for comment, and Palantir declined to comment on its work with the Trump administration. Instead, the company referenced a blog post stating that organizations using its products “define what can and cannot be done with their data; they control the Palantir accounts.”
Palantir is among several private companies that have been vying for influence within the Trump administration. The company has been identified as a central figure in Trump’s mass deportation efforts, which have largely lagged thus far, as Headline USA reported.
Earlier this year, Palantir CEO Alex Karp gave investors a candid overview of the company’s extensive work for the Trump administration.
As reported by Mother Jones:
I’m very happy to have you along for the journey,’ Karp said. ‘We are crushing it. We are dedicating our company to the service of the West and the United States of America, and we’re super-proud of the role we play, especially in places we can’t talk about.’ ‘Palantir is here to disrupt,’ he continued. ‘And, when it’s necessary, to scare our enemies and, on occasion, kill them.’
Karp brings an unconventional background to the company’s leadership. Trained as a philosopher and lawyer, Karp holds a PhD from Goethe University Frankfurt and a law degree from Stanford. He co-founded Palantir in 2004 alongside Peter Thiel and has since positioned the company as a major player in data analytics for government agencies.
Known for his outspoken views and willingness to challenge Silicon Valley norms, Karp has been at the helm of Palantir during a period it has experienced significant growth, while also generating a fair share of controversy.
The evolving partnership between the government and technology firms like Palantir continues to raise important questions about data use and privacy, which could likely provoke a backlash among elements among the pro-privacy sectors of the Left and the Right.
José Niño is the deputy editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/JoseAlNino
