US President Donald Trump’s executive order calling for greater information sharing across national firms has sparked problem, prompting fears he may make a master databases of personal data on millions of Americans. Though Trump has not publicly commented on the action since, authorities have taken concrete ways behind the scenes—speaking to various agencies about adopting it strong Palantir’s data inclusion tools. Representatives from Palantir are now in talks with the social security administration and the IRS, and the agency’s Casting technology is already in use at the department of homeland security and the department of health and human service. Foundry allows huge datasets to become merged and analysed, essentially paving the way for the government to build precise information on individuals. The shift has alarmed private whistleblowers and civil rights parties, who fear the structure could be weaponized for political reasons, particularly against refugees and critics.
What is Palantir?
Palantir is a data analytics firm that began by supporting US defense activities and then works with governments and private organizations across more than 40 business. 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. In response to concerns that the administration might use sensitive information, such as bank accounts, medical claims, and disability status, for political targeting, petitions from student organizations and labor unions have been filed to stop this access.
