At The New York Times’ DealBook Summit, Palantir Technologies CEO Alex Karp delivered a robust defence of his company’s ethical standards and political alignments, pushing back against persistent allegations about Palantir’s role in surveillance and its controversial government contracts.
Karp insisted Palantir is “highly ethical,” but importantly declared the company “doesn’t need you to believe us on that,” reflecting his confidence despite public scrutiny.
The CEO said, “If you’re legally surveilled … could you put it in our product? Yes.” This statement, said at the New York Times summit, reflects the company’s position in operating within legal frameworks while supporting government agencies like ICE, a partnership often harshly criticised.
This endorsement marks a sharp pivot from his earlier 2024 stance of backing former Vice President Kamala Harris and donating generously to Joe Biden’s campaign. Karp explained that it was the political parties that changed, not his views.
Despite being a progressive who wrote his college thesis on fascism, he dismissed claims of Trump being fascist as “stupid.”
He lauded the company’s “warrior culture,” focusing on merit, rigor, and discipline, rejecting the “cushy perks” culture typical of tech giants in past decades. Karp’s outspoken style parallels shifts seen in other tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and Sam Altman, who have publicly aligned with elements of Trump’s agenda, from manufacturing to content moderation.
This collective turn signals a new phase where major tech companies openly engage with conservative policy priorities, a stark contrast to prior political distancing.
Palantir has an Army enterprise agreement that gives the US Army the option to purchase up to $10 billion of services over 10 years, according to a Reuters’ August report. He views ethical challenges not as risks alone but as growth opportunities, framing the company at the forefront of technological transparency in conflict zones.
Karp firmly denies mass surveillance claims, stating Palantir only processes data legally obtained by authorities, differentiating itself from direct data collection firms. However, critics question how this data is used and shared.
Karp insisted Palantir is “highly ethical,” but importantly declared the company “doesn’t need you to believe us on that,” reflecting his confidence despite public scrutiny.
Defending against surveillance allegations
Karp categorically denied that Palantir builds surveillance databases, countering widespread concerns that the company supports mass surveillance. He clarified that while their software can process legally obtained surveillance data, Palantir itself does not arbitrarily collect or create such data.The CEO said, “If you’re legally surveilled … could you put it in our product? Yes.” This statement, said at the New York Times summit, reflects the company’s position in operating within legal frameworks while supporting government agencies like ICE, a partnership often harshly criticised.
Bold political shifts and strong support for Trump
Karp surprised many by expressing strong support for the Trump administration’s immigration policies and broader national security agenda, stating that on these issues “this President has performed.”This endorsement marks a sharp pivot from his earlier 2024 stance of backing former Vice President Kamala Harris and donating generously to Joe Biden’s campaign. Karp explained that it was the political parties that changed, not his views.
Despite being a progressive who wrote his college thesis on fascism, he dismissed claims of Trump being fascist as “stupid.”
Company culture and industry influence
Karp painted Palantir as a countercultural force in tech, branding it “the first company to be completely anti-woke.” He criticised elite colleges and traditional credentialism, positioning Palantir as offering a “new credential independent of class and background.”He lauded the company’s “warrior culture,” focusing on merit, rigor, and discipline, rejecting the “cushy perks” culture typical of tech giants in past decades. Karp’s outspoken style parallels shifts seen in other tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Tim Cook, and Sam Altman, who have publicly aligned with elements of Trump’s agenda, from manufacturing to content moderation.
This collective turn signals a new phase where major tech companies openly engage with conservative policy priorities, a stark contrast to prior political distancing.
Palantir has an Army enterprise agreement that gives the US Army the option to purchase up to $10 billion of services over 10 years, according to a Reuters’ August report. He views ethical challenges not as risks alone but as growth opportunities, framing the company at the forefront of technological transparency in conflict zones.
FAQ
Is Palantir involved in intrusive mass surveillance?Karp firmly denies mass surveillance claims, stating Palantir only processes data legally obtained by authorities, differentiating itself from direct data collection firms. However, critics question how this data is used and shared.
