UK considers early exit from Palantir’s NHS contract amid data protection concerns

The UK government is reportedly considering activating a break clause in its £330 million contract with Palantir for the National Health Service's Federated Data Platform (FDP). This potential early termination comes amid significant opposition from Members of Parliament (MPs) and concerns over data protection and ethical implications, with further coverage provided by Tech Radar.

The contract, awarded to the US analytics company Palantir, aims to establish a centralized hub for NHS staff and patient data. However, widespread opposition has arisen due to Palantir's controversial history, including its work with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and alleged access to NHS staff personal information. MPs have voiced concerns that the contract provides only a subscription service with no deliverables or intellectual property rights retained by the NHS upon termination, potentially leading to a permanent lock-in and single point of failure.

Despite assurances from Palantir's UK executive vice-chair that there is no interest in patient data, these concerns persist, exacerbated by a separate pilot contract with the Financial Conduct Authority.

Source: Tech Radar