ASIA
29 April 2026
Palantir – the company that people love to hate
Is Palantir a wolf in sheep's clothing?
Palantir is a leading data-mining firm focusing on AI and big data analytics. But the company is much more than a bunch of naive techies. It is often accused of being a nefarious agent of immoral governments and corporations, and a facilitator of the surveillance state – meaning the monitoring of individuals, groups, or populations by government agencies to track activity, behavior, and communications.
Thiel appointed as CEO the eccentric Alex Karp, a fellow student from Stanford Law School, who also obtained a doctorate in social theory from Goethe University Frankfurt – but had no training in information technology. This has not stopped Palantir stock surging more than 460% over the past five years under Karp’s leadership, making it one of the biggest winners of the AI boom.
From the outset, Karp insisted that Palantir’s mission was to serve government on problems of national security in the wake of 9/11. It has always been critical of the focus on frivolous social media by companies like Facebook – although over time Palantir has expanded its operations to the private sector. For example, banks and government regulators use Palantir’s software as anti-money laundering and customer data tracking products.
Palantir grew rapidly on its ability to turn messy, large data into actionable intelligence. Its platforms are like smart dashboards. Upload enough data, and they find patterns, make predictions, and flag people who meet specific criteria – such as being a “visa overstay,” having alleged gang affiliations, or other red flags.
More recently, Karp claims to have been the first CEO of a large US company to visit Ukraine after the 2022 Russian invasion. Palantir's technology has since been used close to the front lines. Palantir's AI has allowed Ukraine to increase the accuracy, speed, and deadliness of its artillery strikes. Ukraine's prosecutor general's office also plans to use Palantir's software to help document alleged Russian war crimes.
A rather controversial case has been Palantir’s relationship with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by which it assists in locating and prioritising targets for immigration enforcement. It provides data analytics software to ICE officials to identify specific areas for potential raids.
Palantir’s software has been used in workplace raids, large-scale enforcement operations, and investigations involving asylum seekers. This highlights how Palantir’s pattern-finding capabilities have long been central to ICE’s most aggressive tactics. The technology compiles data from various sources, including the Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to build dossiers on individuals, including photos, addresses, and birthdates.
Palantir Technologies has entered a strategic partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, supplying AI-powered data analytics software for military operations in Gaza and the West Bank since October 2023. The technology aids in targeting decisions and information management. Critics and reports allege that Palantir's AI tools are used to create "kill lists," aiding in target selection in Gaza, raising significant concerns regarding civilian casualties.
Palantir is now playing a pivotal role in the US-Iran conflict, with its AI-powered software being utilised to identify and target sites in Iran. Palantir's Maven Smart System is used by the US military to aggregate data from satellites, drones, and intelligence reports to rapidly select targets. Palantir executives have described this conflict as the first major war "driven" by artificial intelligence.
Over time, Palantir has become a key “problem solver” for the US Defence Department. Karp sees Palantir providing the operating system for the US government, much as IBM did in earlier decades. Indeed, Palantir is disrupting the cosy relationships that companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon have with the US government. As software becomes a key component, Palantir is injecting some healthy competition for the military/industrial complex.
Palantir may position itself as a neutral technology provider, but its role is more than just technical. First, it can choose to whom it sells its software, and for what purpose it is used. And the architecture of a system—how it integrates data, flags individuals, and prioritizes actions—inevitably shapes outcomes.
Palantir’s software enables its clients, both government and private sector, to analyse vast reams of data, and open up the lives of citizens and companies in ways that have little respect for personal privacy. Palantir has been criticised for its involvement in expanding government surveillance through artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies. Further, Palantir is accused of facilitating the human rights abuses of ICE which is implementing Trump's programme to deport illegal migrants. And some regard Palantir as a murderous organisation, by virtue of its work with US, Israeli and other militaries which makes killing more efficient.
Palantir has become so entwined in the security states of the US and its allies that there can be a complete lack of transparency in its contractual relationships. According to a Palantir training manual the Australian national crime agency has spent $60 million on contracts which enable it to sift through 42 million pieces of data such as phone calls, messages and police records. And Australia’s sovereign wealth fund has quietly built a $165 million stake in Palantir, but there is no evidence the fund has considered whether its venture abides by its responsible investing rules.
Peter Theil was a key 2016 Trump supporter and donor who provided elite tech backing to his campaign. While mentoring JD Vance and facilitating his rise, Thiel stepped back from funding Trump in 2024, citing the administration's actions as "crazier" than expected, though he maintained a preference for him over alternatives.
For his part, Alex Karp projects his own personal vulnerabilities – as a mixed race Jew and African American, and a dyslexic – onto his world view and the Palantir agenda. Karp is committed to defending the West and sees this defence as a key mission of Palantir. He was traumatised by the 2023 attacks on Israel from Gaza, and strongly supports the defence of Israel against its Arab adversaries. He also believes that President Trump has performed when it comes to controlling immigration and reestablishing the deterrent capacity of the US. It must also be said Palantir has benefited greatly from government contracts.
Karp believes that the new era of advanced AI provides geopolitical adversaries with a great opportunity to challenge the US global standing. China threatens US tech predominance, and is leading in certain tech sectors, and has demonstrated its ability to catch up and copy in others, especially AI.
In sum, the survival of the American experiment depends on the technological revitalization of the military-industrial complex. Continued technological dominance will be key to ensuring the continued prosperity and security of the West. Karp insists that it has never worked with China, Russia or Iran, the West’s adversaries.
Any doubt that Palantir is fundamentally a political organisation was quashed when it published a 22-point manifesto, based on Karp’s book of 2025, The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West. The manifesto is a strident declaration of the superiority of Western and above all American culture, and the need to aggressively defend this.
Some of the points in this manifesto are: the assertion that some cultures have produced vital advances while others remain dysfunctional and regressive; the claim that no other country in the history of the world has advanced progressive values more than the US; the argument that the postwar neutering of Germany and Japan must be undone.
Further, the manifesto claims that American power has made possible an extraordinarily long peace – at least three generations have never known a world war; argues that the ability of free and democratic societies to prevail requires hard power (not just soft power), and hard power in this century will be built on software; claims that one age of deterrence, the atomic age, is ending, and a new era of deterrence built on AI is set to begin; and calls for national service to be a universal duty.
Microsoft has played a major role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict by providing cybersecurity defense to Ukraine, identifying Russian nation-state cyberattacks, and significantly scaling down its operations in Russia. In March 2022, Microsoft suspended new sales of products and services in Russia.
Starlink satellites, provided by SpaceX, became the backbone of Ukraine’s battlefield communications, allowing troops to coordinate, deploy drones, and maintain internet access. While SpaceX has shipped thousands of terminals to aid Ukraine, Elon Musk has restricted service for offensive, long-range drone strikes and in specific contested regions, citing concerns over escalating the conflict.
Musk denied a request to activate Starlink in Sevastopol for a surprise attack on the Russian fleet in 2022, arguing that Starlink was meant for civilian, not offensive military use. As of early 2026, reports indicate that Elon Musk has blocked Starlink access for Russian forces in occupied areas, resulting in significant disruptions to their logistical and unit coordination.
Today, we live in a world where Big Tech companies play an important role in geopolitics – a field previously dominated by governments.
The birth of Palantir
Palantir was founded in 2003, with its initial finance coming from Peter Thiel, an infamous German and American entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and conservative political activist.Thiel appointed as CEO the eccentric Alex Karp, a fellow student from Stanford Law School, who also obtained a doctorate in social theory from Goethe University Frankfurt – but had no training in information technology. This has not stopped Palantir stock surging more than 460% over the past five years under Karp’s leadership, making it one of the biggest winners of the AI boom.
From the outset, Karp insisted that Palantir’s mission was to serve government on problems of national security in the wake of 9/11. It has always been critical of the focus on frivolous social media by companies like Facebook – although over time Palantir has expanded its operations to the private sector. For example, banks and government regulators use Palantir’s software as anti-money laundering and customer data tracking products.
Palantir grew rapidly on its ability to turn messy, large data into actionable intelligence. Its platforms are like smart dashboards. Upload enough data, and they find patterns, make predictions, and flag people who meet specific criteria – such as being a “visa overstay,” having alleged gang affiliations, or other red flags.
Palantir’s role in hot political issues
Palantir also received early-stage funding from In-Q-Tel, the non-profit venture capital arm of the CIA. In its early days, the CIA was Palantir's primary client, using Palantir’s software to find terrorist training camps, and track adversaries in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attack.More recently, Karp claims to have been the first CEO of a large US company to visit Ukraine after the 2022 Russian invasion. Palantir's technology has since been used close to the front lines. Palantir's AI has allowed Ukraine to increase the accuracy, speed, and deadliness of its artillery strikes. Ukraine's prosecutor general's office also plans to use Palantir's software to help document alleged Russian war crimes.
A rather controversial case has been Palantir’s relationship with the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by which it assists in locating and prioritising targets for immigration enforcement. It provides data analytics software to ICE officials to identify specific areas for potential raids.
Palantir’s software has been used in workplace raids, large-scale enforcement operations, and investigations involving asylum seekers. This highlights how Palantir’s pattern-finding capabilities have long been central to ICE’s most aggressive tactics. The technology compiles data from various sources, including the Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), to build dossiers on individuals, including photos, addresses, and birthdates.
Palantir Technologies has entered a strategic partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, supplying AI-powered data analytics software for military operations in Gaza and the West Bank since October 2023. The technology aids in targeting decisions and information management. Critics and reports allege that Palantir's AI tools are used to create "kill lists," aiding in target selection in Gaza, raising significant concerns regarding civilian casualties.
Palantir is now playing a pivotal role in the US-Iran conflict, with its AI-powered software being utilised to identify and target sites in Iran. Palantir's Maven Smart System is used by the US military to aggregate data from satellites, drones, and intelligence reports to rapidly select targets. Palantir executives have described this conflict as the first major war "driven" by artificial intelligence.
Over time, Palantir has become a key “problem solver” for the US Defence Department. Karp sees Palantir providing the operating system for the US government, much as IBM did in earlier decades. Indeed, Palantir is disrupting the cosy relationships that companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, and Raytheon have with the US government. As software becomes a key component, Palantir is injecting some healthy competition for the military/industrial complex.
Is Palantir a company of innocent technocrats?
Palantir is widely accused of creating massive databases on personal data with little respect for personal privacy and for nefarious objectives. Its response is that it only provides clients with software and that it does not maintain any databases. Palantir staff regard their work as “plumbing”, joining together scattered stores of information.Palantir may position itself as a neutral technology provider, but its role is more than just technical. First, it can choose to whom it sells its software, and for what purpose it is used. And the architecture of a system—how it integrates data, flags individuals, and prioritizes actions—inevitably shapes outcomes.
Palantir’s software enables its clients, both government and private sector, to analyse vast reams of data, and open up the lives of citizens and companies in ways that have little respect for personal privacy. Palantir has been criticised for its involvement in expanding government surveillance through artificial intelligence and facial recognition technologies. Further, Palantir is accused of facilitating the human rights abuses of ICE which is implementing Trump's programme to deport illegal migrants. And some regard Palantir as a murderous organisation, by virtue of its work with US, Israeli and other militaries which makes killing more efficient.
Palantir has become so entwined in the security states of the US and its allies that there can be a complete lack of transparency in its contractual relationships. According to a Palantir training manual the Australian national crime agency has spent $60 million on contracts which enable it to sift through 42 million pieces of data such as phone calls, messages and police records. And Australia’s sovereign wealth fund has quietly built a $165 million stake in Palantir, but there is no evidence the fund has considered whether its venture abides by its responsible investing rules.
Palantir’s politics
Despite Palantir’s technological pretensions, it is fundamentally a politically motivated organisation.Peter Theil was a key 2016 Trump supporter and donor who provided elite tech backing to his campaign. While mentoring JD Vance and facilitating his rise, Thiel stepped back from funding Trump in 2024, citing the administration's actions as "crazier" than expected, though he maintained a preference for him over alternatives.
For his part, Alex Karp projects his own personal vulnerabilities – as a mixed race Jew and African American, and a dyslexic – onto his world view and the Palantir agenda. Karp is committed to defending the West and sees this defence as a key mission of Palantir. He was traumatised by the 2023 attacks on Israel from Gaza, and strongly supports the defence of Israel against its Arab adversaries. He also believes that President Trump has performed when it comes to controlling immigration and reestablishing the deterrent capacity of the US. It must also be said Palantir has benefited greatly from government contracts.
Karp believes that the new era of advanced AI provides geopolitical adversaries with a great opportunity to challenge the US global standing. China threatens US tech predominance, and is leading in certain tech sectors, and has demonstrated its ability to catch up and copy in others, especially AI.
In sum, the survival of the American experiment depends on the technological revitalization of the military-industrial complex. Continued technological dominance will be key to ensuring the continued prosperity and security of the West. Karp insists that it has never worked with China, Russia or Iran, the West’s adversaries.
Any doubt that Palantir is fundamentally a political organisation was quashed when it published a 22-point manifesto, based on Karp’s book of 2025, The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and the Future of the West. The manifesto is a strident declaration of the superiority of Western and above all American culture, and the need to aggressively defend this.
Some of the points in this manifesto are: the assertion that some cultures have produced vital advances while others remain dysfunctional and regressive; the claim that no other country in the history of the world has advanced progressive values more than the US; the argument that the postwar neutering of Germany and Japan must be undone.
Further, the manifesto claims that American power has made possible an extraordinarily long peace – at least three generations have never known a world war; argues that the ability of free and democratic societies to prevail requires hard power (not just soft power), and hard power in this century will be built on software; claims that one age of deterrence, the atomic age, is ending, and a new era of deterrence built on AI is set to begin; and calls for national service to be a universal duty.
Big Tech and geopolitics
Palantir is not the first and only Big Tech company to play a leading role in geopolitics.Microsoft has played a major role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict by providing cybersecurity defense to Ukraine, identifying Russian nation-state cyberattacks, and significantly scaling down its operations in Russia. In March 2022, Microsoft suspended new sales of products and services in Russia.
Starlink satellites, provided by SpaceX, became the backbone of Ukraine’s battlefield communications, allowing troops to coordinate, deploy drones, and maintain internet access. While SpaceX has shipped thousands of terminals to aid Ukraine, Elon Musk has restricted service for offensive, long-range drone strikes and in specific contested regions, citing concerns over escalating the conflict.
Musk denied a request to activate Starlink in Sevastopol for a surprise attack on the Russian fleet in 2022, arguing that Starlink was meant for civilian, not offensive military use. As of early 2026, reports indicate that Elon Musk has blocked Starlink access for Russian forces in occupied areas, resulting in significant disruptions to their logistical and unit coordination.
Today, we live in a world where Big Tech companies play an important role in geopolitics – a field previously dominated by governments.