What is Palantir? Secretive data firm with deep government ties, now central to Trump's federal data-sharing plan
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US President Donald Trump's executive order calling for greater data sharing across federal agencies has sparked concern, prompting fears he could create a master database of personal information on millions of Americans.
Though Trump has not publicly commented on the initiative since, officials have taken concrete steps behind the scenes—speaking to multiple agencies about adopting tech firm Palantir's data integration tools.
Representatives from Palantir are now in talks with the social security administration and the IRS, and the company's Foundry software is already in use at the department of homeland security and the department of health and human services.
Foundry allows massive datasets to be merged and analysed, effectively paving the way for the government to build detailed profiles on individuals. The move has alarmed privacy watchdogs and civil liberties groups, who fear the system could be weaponized for political purposes, especially against immigrants and critics.
What is Palantir?
Palantir is a data analytics company that began by supporting US military operations and now works with governments and private companies across more than 40 industries.
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It was founded in 2003 by PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, along with Alex Karp, Joe Lonsdale, and Stephen Cohen. CEO Karp and president Cohen still lead the company as of June 2025.
The firm was born from the idea of using PayPal's fraud detection tools to help the US track terrorists, while preserving civil liberties. Early funding came from Thiel and a $2 million investment from the CIA's venture arm, In-Q-Tel. Palantir's software was eventually deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, helping U.S.
troops detect threats like roadside bombs and ambushes.
Palantir has since built software to support CIA operations, prevent terrorist attacks, and assist with vaccine rollout. It entered the commercial sector in 2009, when JPMorgan Chase began using its tools to catch financial fraud.
After going public in 2020, the company expanded to sectors such as healthcare, finance, and manufacturing, with commercial work now making up half its revenue.
While Palantir has drawn praise for its role in national security and data-driven decision-making, its growing influence has sparked debate. The company has assisted US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in locating undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers, contributing to family separations and high-profile workplace raids.
In 2019, over 200 Palantir employees signed a petition protesting its work with ICE, and Amnesty International has condemned its role in deportation efforts.
Now, as Trump pushes for deeper data integration across federal agencies, critics warn Palantir's tools could become a government surveillance engine. Lawsuits from student groups and labor unions have been filed to prevent such access, citing concerns that the administration could use sensitive information—like bank accounts, medical claims, and disability status—for political targeting.
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