Palantir and London mayor's policing office settle lawsuit over blocked £50m Met contract
Palantir and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime have settled the US firm's lawsuit over the blocking of a £50m Metropolitan Police AI contract, with both sides withdrawing allegations. The Met has begun a fresh procurement process in which Palantir may bid.
1 / 3
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 1US tech firm Palantir and the office of London mayor Sadiq Khan settled Palantir's lawsuit over the blocking of a £50 million ($66 million) Metropolitan Police contract, both parties said on Wednesday 14 October. CNAN “have settled Palantir's lawsuit over a decision to block a £50 million ($66 million) contract with London police, both parties said on Wednesday.” Read at CNA ↗ Mixed · 2Palantir had agreed a two-year contract with the Met to use its artificial intelligence systems to automate certain tasks and analyse evidence; City A.M. describes it as automating criminal intelligence analysis. CNAN “Palantir had agreed a two-year contract with the Metropolitan Police to use its artificial intelligence systems to automate certain tasks and for analysing evidence.” Read at CNA ↗ City A.M.RC “to provide AI technology to help the Met automate criminal intelligence analysis.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Mixed · 2The Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) refused to approve the deal in May, telling the Met it had failed to hold an open competition; reports also quoted a Khan spokesperson citing concerns that Palantir did not align with "London's values". CNAN “telling the Met Police it had failed to have an open competition for the contract, with reports also quoting a spokesperson for Khan citing concerns Palantir did not align with "London's values".” Read at CNA ↗ City A.M.RC “The dispute began in May, when MOPAC blocked a proposed two-year contract” Read at City A.M. ↗
Right · 1Palantir argued the decision was influenced by political considerations, while MOPAC maintained the Met had not followed proper procurement procedures. City A.M.RC “Palantir argued that the decision had been influenced by political considerations, while MOPAC maintained that the Met had failed to follow proper procurement procedures.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Centre · 1In a joint statement the two sides said they had resolved the case and "withdrawn their allegations against each other", and that MOPAC's decision was not based on Palantir's values or ethics or any wider reporting about the company. CNAN “had resolved the case and "withdrawn their allegations against each other".”“"was not based on Palantir's values or ethics or any wider reporting about the company"” Read at CNA ↗ Mixed · 2MOPAC said it has never had a policy of not contracting with Palantir, which is welcome to take part in procurement; City A.M. reports the statement said MOPAC insisted its decision rested on governance, affordability and value for money, and was "happy to correct any contrary impression". CNAN “"does not have, and has never had, any policy of not contracting with Palantir"” Read at CNA ↗ City A.M.RC “MOPAC insisted its decision was based on governance, affordability and value for money, rather than Palantir’s ethics.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Right · 1Palantir senior vice president Tom Watson said the mayor and his team had recognised their actions could have created the impression that the decision was based on Palantir's values, and that procurement decisions should be made on merit despite campaign-group pressure. Khan said Palantir makes a significant contribution to jobs and investment in London. City A.M.RC ““The mayor and his team have recognised their actions could have created the impression that the decision to block the UOA contract was based on Palantir’s values”, he said.”““Palantir makes a significant contribution to jobs and investment in the capital” Read at City A.M. ↗ Right · 1The settlement ends proceedings that were due for a full High Court hearing in January 2027; each side bears its own costs, which earlier court budgets put at more than £8m combined, and the Met has begun a fresh procurement process. City A.M.RC “The settlement brings an end to proceedings that had been due for a full High Court hearing in January 2027.”“Both parties will bear their own legal costs. Earlier court budgets had put their combined potential costs at more than £8m.” Read at City A.M. ↗ Centre · 1Palantir's supply of software to the US military and immigration services and co-founder Peter Thiel's political views have drawn scrutiny as European governments grow wary of dependence on US tech; Britain is reviewing a £330 million NHS contract with Palantir, and a parliamentary committee cited a "clear mismatch with UK values", which UK CEO Louis Mosley called "irresponsible". CNAN “The settlement comes as Britain is conducting a review of a £330 million National Health Service contract with Palantir”“a suggestion Palantir's British CEO Louis Mosley called "irresponsible".” Read at CNA ↗
Right · 1City A.M. adds that the settlement came days after the Met said Palantir's existing technology had helped uncover misconduct by the head of its Special Constabulary. City A.M.RC “The settlement comes days after the Met revealed that Palantir’s existing technology had helped uncover misconduct by the head of its Special Constabulary.” Read at City A.M. ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Wire-style business report of a joint settlement, with context on wider UK scrutiny of Palantir.
- Emphasis
- Joint statement, 'London's values' remark, NHS contract review and parliamentary criticism.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Omits Palantir's stated aims, costs, trial date and the new procurement.
- Charged language
- “clear mismatch with UK values”
- For example
-
“The settlement comes as Britain is conducting a review of a £330 million National Health Service contract with Palantir” — CNA
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Presents the settlement as a mayoral 'climbdown' and a vindication of Palantir.
- Emphasis
- Palantir's motives and quotes, Khan's praise, legal costs, the Met's use of Palantir tech.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the NHS review or parliamentary criticism of Palantir, nor Thiel.
- Charged language
- “Khan climbdown”“unlawful”
- For example
-
“Khan climbdown: Palantir settles £50m Met row after fears of ‘unlawful’ bias” — City A.M.
What every side reports
- Palantir and MOPAC settled the lawsuit on 14 October and withdrew allegations against each other.
- The blocked contract was worth £50m over two years for AI systems for the Met.
- MOPAC says it has no policy against contracting with Palantir, which can bid in procurement.
Where accounts differ
-
Why the contract was blocked
- Centre
- CNA notes the mayor's office cited lack of open competition, while reports quoted a Khan spokesperson citing 'London's values'; the joint statement denies values were the basis.
- Right
- City A.M. says the decision was feared 'unlawfully' influenced by Palantir's values; MOPAC says governance, affordability and value for money.
Palantir organisation
Says the case tested whether procurement rules are applied fairly and that the mayor's team recognised the impression its actions created.
“saying the case had sought to establish whether public procurement rules were being applied fairly.” — City A.M.
Sadiq Khan person
His office says the decision was not based on Palantir's values; Khan praised Palantir's contribution to London jobs.
“Khan also praised the company’s contribution to London” — City A.M.
Metropolitan Police organisation
Has begun a fresh procurement process for the AI technology.
“The Met has since begun a fresh procurement process for the AI technology” — City A.M.
East and Southeast Asia1 outlet
CNA reports the settlement with context on European wariness of US tech.
“as European governments grow increasingly wary about dependency on US tech platforms.” — CNA
CNA
UK and Ireland2 outlets
City A.M. focuses on the legal and commercial detail and the mayor's retreat.
“Both parties will bear their own legal costs.” — City A.M.
City A.M., The Guardian
Centre1 article
-
CNAN ·
Palantir and London mayor's office settle lawsuit over UK police contract
Neutral Even-handed report of the settlement with wider context on UK scrutiny of Palantir.
Right1 article
-
Khan climbdown: Palantir settles £50m Met row after fears of ‘unlawful’ bias
Mixed Frames the outcome as a loss for Khan, leaning on Palantir's account.
- 14 Oct 15:33 First CNAN Palantir and London mayor's office settle lawsuit over UK police contract
- 14 Oct 16:34 +1h 2m City A.M.RC Khan climbdown: Palantir settles £50m Met row after fears of ‘unlawful’ bias
- 14 Oct 17:05 +1h 32m The GuardianLC Palantir and Sadiq Khan drop legal battle over Met contract
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…