Sadiq Khan May Block Scotland Yard’s Palantir AI Contract 2026

Key Points

• Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, raises concerns over Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) potential contract with Palantir for AI systems to process criminal intelligence.
• Khan worries about using public money to support firms acting “contrary to London’s values”.
• Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel, held talks with Met Police last month; contract could be worth tens of millions of pounds.
• Demonstrations given to senior officers in Met’s intelligence division; staff tasked with identifying AI automation opportunities.
• Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) must scrutinise and approve contracts over £500,000.
• Over 330,000 signed UK petitions to block Palantir from public contracts.
• UK Government has £330m NHS deal (signed by Conservatives) and £240m MoD deal (post-Starmer’s visit with Peter Mandelson).
• Palantir’s 22-point manifesto criticised as “ramblings of a supervillain” by an MP; implies cultural inferiority, calls to end “postwar neutering” of Germany/Japan, predicts autonomous weapons dominance.
• Met already uses Palantir AI to detect rogue officers (below approval threshold).
• Peter Thiel: Trump supporter, libertarian; lectured on “antichrist” fears, wrote freedom/democracy incompatible.
• Internal Palantir dissent: staff upset over ICE/Israel/US military work, manifesto, Iran strikes (Tomahawk hit girls’ school killing 175+ mostly children).
• Palantir claims AI doubled strike pace, reduced collateral; CEO Alex Karp said AI disrupts female/Democrat power, boosts working-class males.
• Australia calls for divestment from $100m Palantir investment.
• Palantir praises: 110,000 extra NHS operations, faster UK police investigations; Met used it to probe hundreds of rogue officers.
• Mayor’s spokesperson: Cannot comment on live processes but general concerns; reviews technical/financial/legal/data issues, prioritises Londoners’ security.
• Palantir response: Hires best talent, fosters internal debate.

London (Britain Today News) April 27, 2026 – Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has signalled potential opposition to a major contract between Scotland Yard and US tech firm Palantir, citing ethical concerns over public funding for companies that clash with the city’s values.

Why Is Sadiq Khan Opposing the Palantir Deal? 2026

Khan’s office expressed reservations after reports emerged of advanced talks between the Metropolitan Police and Palantir. The US company, known for its controversial AI tools, demonstrated its systems to senior officers in the Met’s intelligence division last month. These tools aim to automate criminal intelligence processing, potentially boosting productivity.

A spokesperson for the mayor stated:

“We can’t comment on live procurement processes. However, as a general point the mayor would have concerns about using public money to support firms who act contrary to London’s values.”

The office emphasised that any proposal would undergo review on technical, financial, legal, and data protection grounds, with Londoners’ security as the top priority.

Khan holds significant influence through the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC), which must approve procurements exceeding £500,000.

What Triggered the Mayor’s Concerns About Palantir? 2026

How Does Palantir’s History Factor In? 2026

Palantir’s software has powered Donald Trump’s ICE immigration crackdowns and supported Israel’s military operations. Founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, a vocal Trump supporter, the firm has drawn widespread scrutiny. Thiel, who co-founded PayPal in the 1990s, has described himself in lectures as a libertarian “worried about the antichrist” and wrote in 2009:

“I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.”

Last week, revelations surfaced that Palantir held wide-ranging talks with the Met, with the contract possibly valued at tens of millions of pounds. Intelligence staff were directed to identify automation opportunities for AI.

Public backlash amplified the issue: more than 330,000 people signed UK petitions urging a block on Palantir contracts. Despite this, the UK Government awarded Palantir a £330m deal to process NHS medical data under the Conservatives, followed by a £240m Ministry of Defence contract after Prime Minister Keir Starmer toured Palantir’s Washington showroom alongside Peter Mandelson, whose firm Global Counsel lobbied for the company.

What Is in Palantir’s Controversial Manifesto? 2026

Palantir recently published a 22-point manifesto on X, sparking outrage. One MP labelled it the “ramblings of a supervillain”. It suggested some cultures are inferior, advocated ending the “postwar neutering” of Germany and Japan, and foresaw a world dominated by autonomous weapons.

Internal dissent within Palantir has grown. According to internal chat logs obtained by reporters, staff reacted strongly to the manifesto. One employee said:

“It’s like we taped a ‘kick me’ sign on our own backs.”

Another noted:

“Every time stuff like that gets posted it gets harder for us to sell the software outside of the US (for sure in the current political climate),”

a comment seconded over 50 times. A third wrote:

“I’ve already had multiple friends reach out and ask what the hell did we post.”

Concerns extended to military applications. When a US Tomahawk missile struck a girls’ school in Iran in February, killing more than 175 people—mostly children—one worker asked:

“Were we involved, and are [we] doing anything to stop a repeat if we were?”

Palantir has claimed its AI more than doubled the pace of strikes in the war’s early days while typically reducing collateral damage.

CEO Alex Karp stated last month that AI would disrupt the power of female and Democrat voters while increasing that of working-class males. This prompted an employee to question:

“If this was true ‘why are we cool with that?’”

Is the Met Police Already Using Palantir Tech? 2026

The Metropolitan Police, the UK’s largest force, has deployed Palantir’s AI tools to detect rogue officers, investigating hundreds of potential cases. This existing contract falls below the £500,000 threshold requiring mayoral approval.

Police forces praising the technology report faster investigations. Palantir highlights its role in delivering 110,000 additional NHS operations and reducing discharge delays.

Neither Palantir nor the Met commented on the new talks. The Met pointed to its successful use of the AI for officer vetting. In response to internal dissent reports, Palantir said:

“We hire the best and brightest talent to help defend America and its allies and to build and deploy our software to help governments and businesses around the world. Palantir is no monolith of belief, nor should we be. We all pride ourselves on a culture of fierce internal dialogue and even disagreement over the complex areas we work on. That has been true from our founding and remains true today.”

What Global Backlash Is Palantir Facing? 2026

Khan’s stance feeds into a broader public relations crisis for Palantir. In Australia, campaigners demand the sovereign wealth fund divest its $100m investment.

Some Palantir employees have voiced dismay over work with ICE, the Israeli and US militaries, and US strikes on Iran.

How Might This Affect London Policing? 2026

The proposed contract could transform how Scotland Yard handles criminal intelligence, leveraging AI for efficiency. Yet Khan’s intervention highlights tensions between technological advancement and ethical procurement. As debates intensify, the mayor’s scrutiny could delay or derail the deal, prioritising alignment with London’s progressive values.

This development underscores growing scrutiny of Big Tech in public services, balancing innovation against moral imperatives. With petitions surging and international echoes, the outcome will shape AI’s role in UK policing.