Palantir staff gain nhs email access amid ethics concerns

Engineers from controversial tech firm Palantir have been granted NHS email accounts, sparking alarm among health service staff.

Palantir staff access nhs systems amid ethics questions

The move has raised concerns about the ethics and implications of allowing the US-based company, which has ties to AI-powered surveillance and war technology, to become embedded in the UK public sector.

At least six Palantir engineers supporting the rollout of its Federated Data Platform (FDP) for NHS England have been given NHS.net email accounts, according to sources. This grants them access to a directory containing the contact details of up to 1.5 million NHS staff.

Palantir's software is being used to connect patient records across different systems, allowing staff to manage waiting lists, allocate appointments and personalize treatment more effectively. The company won a £300m contract to provide FDP in 2023.

However, critics argue that Palantir's involvement, led by its UK arm headed by grandson of British fascist leader Oswald Mosley Louis Mosley, raises deep ethical concerns over the company's values and methods.