Over 44,000 people file legal objections to Palantir-powered NHS data platform
More than 44,000 people have formally objected to their health data being handled by the Palantir-powered NHS Federated Data Platform. Palantir and NHS England defend the system while campaigners cite the firm's work for the Israeli military and US immigration enforcement.
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The story, neutrally told
More than 44,000 people have filed legal objections to their health data being shared with, stored in or used by the Palantir-powered Federated Data Platform (FDP). The GuardianLC “More than 44,000 people have filed legal objections to their health data being shared with, stored in or used by the nationwide Federated Data Platform (FDP)” Read at The Guardian ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “More than 44,000 people have filed legal objections to their personal health data being shared with, stored in, or used by the Palantir-powered Federated Data Platform (FDP)” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Guardian reports that the campaign, coordinated by the not-for-profit 38 Degrees, relies on article 21 of the UK GDPR, and that the NHS must stop using the data unless it can give a "compelling reason" to continue. The GuardianLC “The formal objections to the FDP using personal data cite article 21 of the UK General Data Protection Regulation”“means the NHS must stop using the data unless it can provide a “compelling reason” to continue” Read at The Guardian ↗ Hundreds of thousands have also signed petitions urging the government to cancel the £330m deal, and two House of Commons select committees have urged Labour to use a break clause in the seven-year contract. The GuardianLC “hundreds of thousands of people have also signed petitions demanding the government cancels its £330m deal with Palantir” Read at The Guardian ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Two House of Commons select committees have urged the Labour government to exercise a break clause in the seven-year NHS contract” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Campaigners cite Palantir's work for the Israeli military and for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement under President Donald Trump. Anadolu AgencyN “Campaigners have also raised concerns about Palantir’s work for the Israeli military and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under US President Donald Trump.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Objector David Murray, a retired IBM systems engineer, said he supports good NHS data but is unhappy about Palantir's involvement with the Israeli military and ICE. The GuardianLC “I am not happy about Palantir’s involvement with the IDF in Gaza and ICE in America” Read at The Guardian ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “a retired IBM systems engineer, who filed an objection” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Palantir says trusts using the platform recorded 117,000 additional operations, a 14.3% reduction in discharge delays for long-stay patients and a 5.6% improvement in patients getting cancer results within 28 days. The GuardianLC “117,000 additional operations, a 14.3% reduction in discharge delays for long stay patients” Read at The Guardian ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “a 5.6% improvement in patients receiving cancer results within 28 days” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Louis Mosley, a Palantir executive, has dismissed criticism as "Palantir derangement syndrome". The GuardianLC “has accused people who disagree with that assessment of suffering from “Palantir derangement syndrome”” Read at The Guardian ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “has dismissed criticism of the company’s NHS work as “Palantir derangement syndrome.”” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The Guardian adds that Palantir says patient data follows NHS instructions and stays in the UK, and that NHS England says organisations remain in control of their data and it will respond to the objections in line with data protection law. The GuardianLC “Palantir said its patient data can only be handled according to the NHS’s instructions and remains in the UK.”“we will respond to the objection requests in line with data protection law” Read at The Guardian ↗ It also reports that Amnesty International parked a van styled as a shot-up Palestinian ambulance outside Palantir's London headquarters, and that NHS England chief executive Jim Mackey has acknowledged the public health benefits may be smaller than claimed. The GuardianLC “Amnesty International parked a van styled like a shot-up Palestinian ambulance outside Palantir’s London HQ”“acknowledged by the NHS England chief executive, Jim Mackey” Read at The Guardian ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Exclusive led by the Guardian's technology editor, presenting the objections as a large public backlash and a test for the government ahead of a February 2027 break-clause decision.
- Emphasis
- Scale of the campaign, political pressure on Labour and Andy Burnham, the Amnesty stunt, and the Gaza and ICE links, alongside Palantir and NHS England responses.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little beyond the company's and NHS England's statements on data safeguards is used to test the campaigners' claims.
- Charged language
- “backlash”“Palantir derangement syndrome”
- For example
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““The scale of this public backlash should be a huge wake-up call for the government,”” — The Guardian
“Campaign comes amid backlash against tech company’s involvement with Israeli military and Trump’s ICE crackdown” — The Guardian
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A short follow-up that attributes the 44,000 figure to the Guardian and summarises the campaign, the petitions and Palantir's defence.
- Emphasis
- Concerns over Palantir's work for the Israeli military and ICE, and Palantir's performance figures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits NHS England's response, the Amnesty protest, Jim Mackey's acknowledgement on benefits, the 38 Degrees role and the data-residency assurance.
- Charged language
- “Palantir derangement syndrome”
- For example
-
“amid growing controversy about the company’s role in Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), according to a report by the Guardian newspaper” — Anadolu Agency
“Palantir said its technology is helping improve NHS services.” — Anadolu Agency
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- More than 44,000 people have filed legal objections to the Palantir-powered Federated Data Platform handling their data.
- The objections rely on data protection rights that require the NHS to stop using the data absent a compelling reason.
- Hundreds of thousands have signed petitions against the £330m Palantir deal.
- Two House of Commons select committees have urged Labour to use a break clause in the seven-year contract.
- Palantir cites 117,000 additional operations, a 14.3% fall in discharge delays and a 5.6% improvement in cancer results within 28 days.
- Palantir's Louis Mosley has called critics' views "Palantir derangement syndrome".
Where accounts differ
-
Whether the platform delivers the benefits claimed
- Left
- The Guardian notes Palantir's figures but also that protesters, and NHS England chief executive Jim Mackey, have acknowledged the public health benefits may be less significant than claimed.
- Centre
- Anadolu reports Palantir's figures and says the company states its technology is improving NHS services, without reporting doubts about the benefits.
Palantir organisation
Says its software is improving care and cutting waiting lists, that patient data stays in the UK under NHS instruction, and that its technology was used to locate hostages rather than target people in Gaza.
“Palantir software is helping to deliver better care” — The Guardian
“Palantir said its patient data can only be handled according to the NHS’s instructions and remains in the UK.” — The Guardian
NHS England organisation
Says NHS organisations keep control of their data in the platform, suppliers cannot use it for their own purposes, and the objections will be answered under data protection law.
“All NHS organisations remain in control of their data within the FDP, with suppliers unable to access it for their own purposes” — The Guardian
UK and Ireland1 outlet
The Guardian gives a detailed domestic account, stressing political stakes for the government and the NHS and including responses from NHS England, Palantir and campaigners.
“with Andy Burnham required to make a decision to back or axe Palantir within months” — The Guardian
The Guardian
Middle East1 outlet
Anadolu condenses the Guardian report and gives prominence to Palantir's work for the Israeli military.
“Campaigners raise concerns about Palantir’s work for Israeli military US immigration agency under Trump” — Anadolu Agency
Anadolu Agency
Left1 article
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More than 44,000 file legal objections to Palantir NHS platform handling their data
Critical Exclusive presenting the objections as a significant public backlash and pressure on the government, with company and NHS responses included.
Centre1 article
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Thousands object to Palantir’s involvement in UK national health data platform
Neutral Condensed, attributed rewrite of the Guardian report, giving campaigners' concerns and Palantir's rebuttal in similar measure.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 30 Sep 15:51 First The GuardianLC More than 44,000 file legal objections to Palantir NHS platform handling their data
- 30 Sep 19:37 +3h 47m Anadolu AgencyN Thousands object to Palantir’s involvement in UK national health data platform
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.