France's domestic intelligence service is set to replace AI data tools from the US tech company Palantir with a domestic provider, aiming to avoid what Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described as 'strategic dependency'.
Lecornu stated on social media: 'We must use our own AI models; we cannot accept new strategic dependencies in the digital sphere. We cannot rely on tools developed by foreign powers. France must have its own tools.'
This move comes amid growing concern among European governments about reliance on US-controlled technologies, especially after Washington restricted foreign nationals' access to Anthropic's latest AI model last week.
The Prime Minister's office confirmed that the French DGSI intelligence agency would switch from Palantir to ChapsVision, though the process may take several years as Palantir's long-term contract was renewed in 2025.
Lecornu emphasized the need for France to 'build real autonomy' and avoid dependence on partners who could 'turn off the access tap' for artificial intelligence.
ChapsVision, founded in 2019 with €200 million revenue in 2025 compared to Palantir's $4.5 billion, announced it would become the 'technological foundation' for many public agencies handling critical data. Its technology, which collects, prepares, and analyzes data, has reportedly also been selected by Germany's BfV internal security service.
Palantir stated it would 'continue to support the French government wherever its solutions are needed.'
Co-founded by rightwing billionaire Peter Thiel, an ally of Donald Trump, Palantir has worked with the US government on immigration enforcement and targeting in the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Campaign groups have warned about surveillance and data protection risks, though Palantir insists it provides powerful data-processing services.
Germany's military has announced it will stop using Palantir products, and Britain is reviewing the NHS's £330 million data contract with the company after political pressure. London Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a proposed £50 million contract with the Metropolitan Police on value-for-money grounds, prompting Palantir to threaten legal action.
Lecornu also announced plans to invest €655 million in artificial intelligence, create a shared chatbot for all state services, and develop a public health chatbot for the state-owned health insurance agency Ameli. The investment will fund 'infrastructure, computing capacity, research, companies and industrial sectors.'
France has already rolled out a government AI tool based on models from French startup Mistral AI, offering a chatbot to 1 million of its 2.6 million civil servants to speed up legal cases and help researchers secure grants.
