Tech: Hospitals urged to reject Palantir software as rights and health groups demand NHS England cancel contract

UK health workers' organisation Medact has published a new briefing outlining grave human rights concerns about contracting Palantir to build NHS England's Federated Data Platform (FDP). Responding to the findings, Matt Mahmoudi, Amnesty International's AI and Human Rights Researcher and Advisor, said:

“Amnesty International supports the briefing published by Medact and partners exposing why Palantir is an unsuitable partner for NHS England due to significant human rights concerns associated with the company.

“Palantir has a track record of flagrantly disregarding international law and standards, both in the violations of the human rights of migrants in the United States, to which it risks contributing to, and its ongoing supply of artificial intelligence (AI) products and services to the Israeli military and intelligence services that are linked to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza.

“Amnesty is calling on NHS England, the UK government and all other public institutions to use their leverage from their investments, including by responsibly divesting from Palantir and ceasing the purchase of equipment and services from the company. These measures must remain in place until the company can demonstrate that it is not contributing to Israel’s genocide, apartheid, unlawful occupation or other crimes under international law.”

Recommendations to NHS

The briefing by Medact recommends NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICB) in England refuse to adopt Palantir’s Federated Data Platform (FDP).

Medact wrote to Palantir ahead of the publication of the briefing, and the company’s responses are reflected in their briefing. Palantir’s responses to Amnesty’s allegations in relation to the use of its technology in Gaza and the United States are included in the respective outputs.

Palantir’s software is not fully operational within the NHS. Trusts and ICBs can and should decline to use the software, and NHS England must terminate its contract with Palantir at its upcoming review in February 2027.

On March 16, an online webinar will outline the briefing’s key findings and explore what they mean for the growing and urgent campaign to remove Palantir from the NHS.

Amnesty is calling on Palantir to immediately cease its operations with all aspects of the Israeli military.