MPs Demand 'Shameful' NHS Palantir Contract Be Scrapped Amid Data Privacy Fears
Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs have demanded that the NHS's £330 million contract with US technology firm Palantir for the Federated Data Platform be scrapped, with one MP questioning whether the company could be "trusted as a custodian of the intimate health records of tens of millions of British citizens."
The controversy has intensified after it emerged that NHS England awarded Palantir a separate £25 million contract to transition existing projects onto the new platform, a move critics argue made the procurement process for the larger contract appear uncompetitive. The government has signalled that the deal could be subject to a break clause in spring 2027.
Background
Palantir, the US data analytics company co-founded by Peter Thiel, has been a controversial presence in the NHS since it was awarded the Federated Data Platform contract. Critics have long raised concerns about the company's background in surveillance and military work, its close ties to the US government, and the implications of a foreign company holding sensitive health data on millions of British patients.
Key Developments
Chi Onwurah, chair of the science and technology select committee, rejected Palantir's claims that criticism of the contract was "ideologically motivated," stating that concerns over vendor lock-in, transparency, value for money, and data security were entirely legitimate. Labour MP Samantha Niblett questioned whether Palantir could be trusted with NHS patient data, citing the company's controversial background. Health Minister Zubir Ahmed stated that if other providers, including British businesses and SMEs, could "do the job better" and offer greater value, those alternatives would be considered.
Why It Matters
The NHS holds some of the most sensitive personal data in the country. The question of who controls that data, and under what conditions, is not merely a technical matter but a fundamental question of public trust and national sovereignty. The controversy also raises broader questions about the government's approach to procuring technology services from large US corporations.
What's Next
The break clause in spring 2027 gives the government an exit point if it chooses to exercise it. In the meantime, parliamentary scrutiny of the contract is expected to intensify, with the science and technology select committee likely to hold further hearings. For more, see Digital Health News.
