London NHS Trust Faces Pressure to Reject Controversial Palantir Data Platform
An East London hospital trust is confronting mounting demands to abandon plans to adopt new NHS software developed by the American technology firm Palantir, amid significant concerns about data protection and the company's controversial international clientele.
Protest Outside Hackney Town Hall
On a wet Wednesday in late January, campaigners assembled outside Hackney Town Hall to directly appeal to Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust executives. Their clear message was to reject the Federated Data Platform (FDP), a nationwide NHS information-sharing system currently being implemented across England.
The protest was organised by the local pressure group, Hackney Coalition Against Palantir. The group has issued stark warnings about what it describes as "widely-held concerns about the inadequate safeguards Palantir offers regarding the confidentiality of our personal health records."
Palantir's Controversial Global Contracts
The campaigners argue that Homerton should sever any potential ties with what they label an "unethical" corporation. Their criticism focuses on Palantir's provision of military and surveillance technology to contentious agencies worldwide, notably the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Marion Macalpine, a spokesperson for the coalition, elaborated on these fears in a discussion with the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "The NHS nationally unfortunately already has a contract with [the firm] which is really shocking, and it will coordinate all the data, our personal health data across the country," she stated.
Macalpine further alleged that Palantir's objective is to amalgamate health, benefit, and Home Office data, enabling the profiling of specific groups and the potential sharing of information with law enforcement or government bodies. "It's what they've done for Trump," she claimed.
Government and NHS Assurances on Data Control
In response to these anxieties, the UK Government has provided firm assurances regarding data sovereignty. Officials have stressed that within the NHS framework, patient information is merely processed by Palantir's software. The company does not control, access, or own the data.
This position was clarified in Parliament in July 2025 by Labour MP Karin Smyth, who confirmed that "Palantir only operates under the instruction of the NHS when processing data on the platform. Palantir does not control the data in the platform, nor are they permitted to access, use, or share it for their own purposes."
The Government has emphasised that privacy is a core principle in the platform's design and that the NHS retains control of patient data at all times.
The Challenge of Preserving Anonymity
Despite these official guarantees, campaigners remain deeply sceptical about the practicalities of data anonymisation. Marion Macalpine countered, "They say that Palantir won't have access to individual data, but we know that anonymity is very difficult to preserve."
This scepticism is reflected elsewhere in the health service. Last year, the Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board decided to defer adopting the FDP system. Their hesitation followed an intelligence report that questioned whether the platform would genuinely enhance data-sharing capabilities as intended.
Homerton Trust's Position and Digital Strategy Review
While individual NHS trusts possess the autonomy to opt-out of the FDP, Homerton Healthcare has indicated a need to engage with the platform. A trust spokesperson explained this stance is partly due to other hospitals already implementing the system and the fact the software is provided free of charge to NHS bodies.
The spokesperson told reporters, "NHS England has made a clear statement on privacy and data protection, which the Trust takes seriously. [...] If NHS England determines that our performance will be judged based on use of the FDP, then the Trust will need to consider usage."
The trust is currently undertaking a comprehensive review to assess if any FDP offerings could be beneficial as part of a new digital strategy, which is scheduled for final approval later this year.
Broader Implications for Hackney's 'Borough of Sanctuary' Status
The campaign group has also raised concerns that Palantir's involvement with US immigration enforcement could undermine Hackney Council's ambition to become a certified 'Borough of Sanctuary'. This initiative aims to foster a welcoming environment for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.
In a joint statement, Hackney Councillors Carole Williams and Chris Kennedy addressed these concerns. They affirmed the council's commitment to transparency regarding local data collection and sharing through their three-year action plan. The politicians noted that while the local authority is not a decision-maker for the trust's use of the FDP, publicly available information from NHS England states the supplier acts solely as a data processor.
Political Scrutiny and Wider Protests
The local demonstration coincided with heightened political scrutiny of Palantir's activities. In the same week, Green Party Leader Zack Polanski delivered a letter to the company's London headquarters, accusing it of "aiding and abetting genocide in Gaza."
As the debate continues, the Homerton Trust's forthcoming decision on the Federated Data Platform will be closely watched, balancing operational needs against profound ethical and privacy questions raised by campaigners and residents.
