Concerns are mounting within Palantir Technologies as employees voice their discontent regarding the company’s collaboration with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Following the fatal shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, staff members have begun questioning the ethical implications of their work with ICE and its associated operations.
According to a report from Wired, some Palantir employees took to a company-wide Slack channel to express their dissatisfaction. “In my opinion, ICE are the bad guys. I am not proud that the company I enjoy so much working for is part of this,” one employee stated. This sentiment is echoed by others who are concerned about the potential reputational damage that could arise from their association with the agency, particularly amid increasing scrutiny of ICE’s tactics.
The discussions were spurred by the tragic incident involving Pretti, who was shot and killed by ICE agents during a crackdown in Minneapolis. Employees questioned the legitimacy of ICE’s actions and the role Palantir plays in supporting them. A notable post asked, “Can Palantir put any pressure on ICE at all?” reflecting a growing frustration with the agency’s practices, especially regarding the detention of individuals without legal justification.
Palantir’s relationship with ICE is deep-rooted, with the company reportedly providing a tracking tool known as “ELITE” that utilizes Medicaid data and other government resources. This tool creates profiles of individuals that ICE could potentially deport. Additionally, Palantir secured a $30 million contract to develop an “ImmigrationOS,” aimed at providing near real-time visibility on individuals self-deporting from the U.S.
Employees have expressed concern over the lack of transparency about the company’s operations with ICE. Many have turned to news reports for information on their employer’s activities, highlighting a disconnect between the company’s internal communications and public knowledge. This situation has led to a significant movement within Palantir, prompting the civil liberties team to update its internal wiki. The update aimed to clarify the nature of Palantir’s work with ICE and acknowledged the ongoing issues related to ICE’s practices, including accusations of racial profiling.
Despite these efforts to address employee concerns, many remain skeptical. Some have pressed higher management on whether Palantir’s technology could be misused by ICE, leading to an admission that the company does not monitor the application of its platform for every workflow. One employee raised concerns about a video showing an ICE agent marking an individual as a “domestic terrorist” and questioned whether Palantir was involved in creating that database. Company executives denied any responsibility for such actions.
This unrest within Palantir reflects broader dissatisfaction with ICE among various stakeholders, including some agents within the Department of Homeland Security. Reports indicate that even within ICE, there are frustrations regarding the agency’s handling of incidents like Pretti’s death. One ICE agent expressed disbelief at the circumstances surrounding the shooting and criticized the agency’s response.
As discussions continue among Palantir employees, the situation underscores the complexities of corporate partnerships with government agencies, particularly in the realm of immigration enforcement. The growing dissent within Palantir raises important questions about corporate responsibility, the ethical implications of technology in law enforcement, and the potential for change within organizations that support controversial practices.
