Palantir · The Guardian Technology
‘Mistrust’ of Palantir may affect NHS research, confirms health minister
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 source. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
Concern is being raised about Palantir’s work with the NHS as new figures showed tens of thousands of patients have withdrawn their data from use in research projects.
Key facts
- London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has also blocked the Metropolitan police from awarding Palantir a £50m contract to use its AI to support investigations
- Frith said: “It may not be possible to realise the benefits of the 10-year health plan if patients stop sharing their data
- People are right to be concerned given … its founder, Trump ally Peter Thiel, going on record to opine that the NHS makes people sick
- James Frith, the health innovation minister, said he was worried about “mistrust” of the US defence and health tech company and “the impact it could have on people’s willingness to share data
Summary
James Frith, the health innovation minister, said he was worried about “mistrust” of the US defence and health tech company and “the impact it could have on people’s willingness to share data with the NHS”. The government is deciding whether to axe the company’s £330m contract to operate the health service’s federated data platform, which is intended to improve efficiency and patient outcomes. Frith’s comment, in a letter to Layla Moran, the chair of the Commons health committee, follows a rise in patients opting out of allowing their medical data to be shared. Doctors and patients’ groups are calling for Labour to exercise a break clause in Palantir’s seven-year contract.