44,000 Object to Palantir's NHS Data Platform, Reports the Guardian
More than 44,000 people have filed legal objections to stop the NHS’s Federated Data Platform from handling their health records, according to the Guardian. The platform, which runs on Palantir software, has sparked a significant public backlash.
The campaign group 38 Degrees coordinated these objections as the £330m contract nears its break clause in September 2026. The objectors rely on Article 21 of the UK GDPR, their right to object, asking the NHS to stop sharing, storing, or using their data.
Veronica Hawking, campaigns director at 38 Degrees, emphasized the widespread concern:
“The scale of this public backlash should be a huge wake-up call for the government.”
Campaign and Objectors' Concerns
Campaigners are concerned about Palantir's work with the Israeli military and US immigration enforcement. While Palantir claims its technology aided in hostage location, critics argue it may have been used for military targeting.
Amnesty International and Just Treatment demonstrated outside Palantir’s London office by parking a van resembling a damaged Palestinian ambulance. MedAct reports over 85,000 patients have made formal complaints to their hospitals, with further protests planned at the Labour Party conference.
NHS and Palantir's Responses
NHS England intends to respond to the objections under data protection law, assuring that "suppliers cannot access [the data] for their own purposes."
Palantir states it only handles patient data on the NHS’s instructions and that all data remains in the UK. They highlight successes attributed to their software, including 117,000 additional operations recorded by trusts using their system and a 14.3% reduction in discharge delays for long-stay patients.
Contractual Deadlines and Future Uncertainty
The initial term of the £330m, seven-year contract ends early next year, offering the government a break clause or extension opportunity. House of Commons select committees have urged the government to exercise the break clause, and NHS data leaders have expressed doubts about Palantir's performance.