Tech Company Palantir Faces Employee Backlash Over ICE Ties

Palantir, a major tech company, is facing internal backlash from its own workers. The controversy stems from the company's work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a recent incident involving the fatal shooting of a nurse, Alex Pretti, by federal agents. This event has sparked a heated debate within Palantir.

Employees Raise Concerns on Slack

Workers took to Slack, the company's messaging platform, to express their concerns. They demanded more transparency about Palantir's involvement with ICE. Some even questioned whether the company should continue working with the agency. The discussion was intense, with employees calling for greater clarity on the matter.

Palantir's Leadership Responds

Palantir's leadership attempted to address the situation by sharing an internal document detailing their work with ICE. The document stated that Palantir's technology helps ICE make better decisions. It also mentioned a $30 million contract for a system called ImmigrationOS, which provides ICE with "near real-time visibility" into individuals who are self-deporting.

Employees Remain Unconvinced

However, not all employees were satisfied. Some questioned whether ICE could use Palantir's technology in ways that go beyond the company's contracts. The response from leadership was clear: Palantir does not control how ICE uses its platform. This raised further ethical concerns among the workforce.

Reports of Wrongful Targeting

The debate also touched on reports of U.S. citizens being wrongly targeted by ICE. While Palantir acknowledged these reports, they argued that their customers at ICE are committed to avoiding such incidents. However, this did not alleviate all employee concerns.

Controversial Video Fuels Backlash

A video shared by an independent journalist added to the controversy. The video showed an ICE agent scanning a legal observer's car. The agent mentioned a "nice little database" and labeled the observer as a "domestic terrorist." This raised further questions about Palantir's role in such databases.

Growing Federal Contracts Amid Backlash

Despite the backlash, Palantir's work with the federal government has been expanding. The company has secured over $900 million in federal contracts. However, the recent internal backlash highlights that not all employees are comfortable with this growth, particularly when it involves agencies like ICE.