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Software giant Palantir snubs ‘undemocratic’ digital ID scheme
The US-based company, which had been touted as a potential bidder, said that it would not seek any contracts around it
A software company involved in controversial projects around the world has ruled out helping the government to implement its digital ID card scheme, saying it lacks democratic legitimacy.
Palantir Technologies, which has contracts with intelligence agencies, police and the Ministry of Defence, said it would not be participating in the scheme and warned it was a “programme that needs to be decided at the ballot box”. The US-based company had been touted as a potential bidder as it specialises in managing vast amounts of data from different sources.
It also has contracts with the NHS to help it manage patient care. Last month, it announced plans to invest up to £1.5 billion in its UK operations.
However, Louis Mosley, Palantir’s UK boss, has criticised the government’s ID plans and said the firm would not bid for any contracts around it.
“Palantir has long had a policy that we will help democratically elected governments implement the policies they have been elected to deliver and that does mean that often we are involved in the implementation of very controversial measures,” he told Times Radio.
“Digital ID is not one that was tested at the last election. It wasn’t in the manifesto. So we haven’t had a clear resounding public support at the ballot box for its implementation. So it isn’t one for us.”
Mosley added that he had “personal concerns” about digital IDs, suggesting they might be open to abuse. “One of my concerns about it is the technical necessity of it,” he said. “We have all had the experience of engaging with parts of government where the online experience leaves something to be desired. It needs improvement.
“However, we are in a world now where there are at least a dozen unique identifiers for each of us in government. We have passports, we have driving licences, we have unique tax codes, we have national insurance numbers. Now, each of these sits in a silo and doesn’t talk to the other. It isn’t harmonised. There’s no way for government to easily jump from one to another.”
He added: “I think there are ways to improve that, that wouldn’t require a wholesale new form of ID and I think it does open up the risk of misuse as well.”
When asked how worried the public should be about data security, he said: “Any digital system needs to be protected, secured. The more of these you have, the greater your surface area of risk.”
https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/software-giant-palantir-snubs-digital-id-scheme-t0gdsknr2