Protest planned in Ipswich against NHS's Palantir contract

Why it matters: The protest, organised by campaign group Suffolk Norfolk Against Palantir (SNAP), forms part of a wider, escalating national row over the company's growing role in the NHS and its access to patient data.

The details: The demonstration will run from 11:00 to 13:00 on the Cornhill. It has been organised by Suffolk Unite Community, on behalf of SNAP.

Organisers say speakers from the British Medical Association (BMA), the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Unison and the local Palestine Solidarity Campaign group are expected to address the protest.

What they're saying: Anthony Dooley, a member of Suffolk Unite Community and an organiser with SNAP, said: "The protest will be addressed by activists from the BMA, the RCN, Unison, the local PSC group and others. I encourage everyone to attend to learn about the threat posed by this US spy tech company having access to our health data."

The bigger picture: Palantir's NHS contract – for its Foundry "federated data platform", designed to link up hospital, GP and clinic records that currently sit on incompatible systems – was awarded at the end of 2023 and is worth up to £330m.

The firm's role in the NHS has drawn criticism from politicians across the political spectrum. Labour MP Emily Darlington has said having a "foreign tech company" involved with patient data is "a major security risk", while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has called for Palantir to be barred from government contracts altogether. Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Conservative MP Wendy Morton have also called for greater scrutiny of the firm.

Opponents of the firm have also raised concerns about its wider business ties, including work carried out for the Israeli military, its financial backing from the CIA in its early years, and the political activities of its co-founder, Peter Thiel, a prominent backer of Donald Trump.

Speaking with the BBC, Palantir UK executive vice-chair Louis Mosley has said he welcomes the scrutiny and believes the firm is "delivering for patients", arguing its software solves the problem of fragmented NHS IT systems. He has said Palantir has "no interest in patient data" and does not access it, comparing its role to that of Microsoft Excel or Word.

The Department of Health and Social Care has said the platform is helping to join up patient care, speed up cancer diagnosis and treat more patients each month, with "strict requirements in place about data security and confidentiality".

For context: The controversy has also played out in London, where Palantir is pursuing legal action against the mayor's office after it blocked a separate contract with the Metropolitan Police over concerns about value for money. The Met has since been ordered to run a new procurement process, while a 12-month extension to its existing Palantir pilot has been approved.

What's next: SNAP is urging residents to attend Saturday's protest, ahead of the NHS contract's renewal being considered in February 2027.

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