German politicians warn police use of Palantir software lacks transparency
German SPD politicians warned that Palantir's data analysis software used by North Rhine-Westphalia police lacks transparency and oversight, particularly concerning undisclosed involvement of US intelligence services. They opposed contract renewal and called for development of a European alternative to replace the system.
What happened
SPD opposition politicians in North Rhine-Westphalia warned against the police use of Palantir's analysis software, describing it as lacking transparency. The Vizevorsitzende of the SPD Landtagsfraktion Elisabeth Müller-Witt stated that 'Palantir is a data octopus, and it is possibly even a Trojan horse, because we do not know what the secret services have in there.'
Palantir developed the analysis software jointly with US intelligence services. NRW police have paid approximately 39 million euros for its use including hardware and external services. The licence was set to expire at year-end, prompting calls from the SPD opposition for a transition to a European solution rather than renewal of a long-term contract.
Reported impact
The software enables investigators to process and link millions of data records from various sources in considerably shorter timeframes. It has proven effective in cases involving mass data collection, such as tracking paedophile criminals.
The data processed is not limited to suspects, but also includes information on witnesses, victims, and informants. According to critics, mass data analysis violates the fundamental right to control one's own data and telecommunications secrecy.
Index analysis
The Federal Constitutional Court of Germany established guidelines for the use of such analysis programs in early 2023 following complaints against the legal rules in Hessen and Hamburg. NRW enabled regular operations of the program in spring 2022 through a change to its police law.
A new constitutional complaint has been filed against police use of the software in Bavaria. Similar disputes over Palantir use have emerged in Baden-Württemberg.
Governance controls
The SPD opposition called on NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul to initiate a federal council proposal for a European alternative. They opposed any new five-year contract with Palantir, favouring at most a shorter-term transition solution.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.