Palantir Technologies Inc., founded in 2003 by Peter Thiel and others, is an American company specializing in powerful software platforms for data analysis, headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Its core operating systems, Palantir Gotham and Palantir Foundry, serve a diverse clientele; Gotham is used by the U.S. Intelligence Community and militaries for predictive policing and counter-terrorism, while Foundry assists corporate giants like Morgan Stanley and Airbus with data integration. Initially focused on U.S. federal agencies, the company has expanded its customer base globally to include state, local governments, and private companies, with its software authorized for Mission Critical National Security Systems by the U.S. Department of Defense.
However, Palantir faces significant criticism regarding privacy concerns, its role in expanding government surveillance through AI and facial recognition technologies, and alleged facilitation of deportations. While critics point to contracts under the Trump administration, supporters counter that Palantir merely provides software to help clients analyze data they already possess, emphasizing that the company does not collect or store the data itself, leaving clients in control of their information.