Palantir: David Davis MP raises privacy concerns over potential NHS data contract

'Bluntly, it is the wrong company to put in charge of our precious data resource'

Conservative MP David Davis has raised concerns in Parliament about the possibility that a multimillion pound contract for the NHS Federated Data Platform England could be awarded to US data mining firm Palantir.

Announcement of the award for the £480 million FDP was originally slated for September but has been delayed for several weeks. However, the controversial firm is widely believed to be the front-runner, sparking a debate over privacy and the use of health data.

During a Parliamentary debate on Tuesday, Davis warned that granting Palantir access to NHS patient data could undermine public trust and derail efforts to better utilise health information.

He said that Palantir's background as an investor-backed, CIA-funded security contractor with a history of supporting the NSA makes it a questionable choice to oversee sensitive medical records.

"Bluntly, it is the wrong company to put in charge of our precious data resource; even if it behaved perfectly, nobody would trust it," Davis said.

The MP for Haltemprice and Howden, a former Brexit secretary, has long advocated for stronger privacy measures in technology.

Davis mentioned two previous failed attempts at consolidating NHS data (presumably Care.data and GPDPR), both cancelled due to privacy issues. He warned history could repeat itself if the privacy implications are not considered more carefully this time.

"The thing that destroyed the last two attempts will destroy this one: people will not sign up and join up."

With proper protections in place, sharing health data could enable valuable research, he added.

"If privacy is protected, we can do things like having a complete nationwide DNA database."

In June, NHSE awarded Palantir a £24.9 million contract to transition existing NHS projects into the new FDP. Critics complained the 12-month deal lacked transparency, skipped over questions of patient consent and excluded other potential bidders.

Palantir was previously handed a £23 million contract for managing Covid-related data.

In August, the National Data Guardian, Nicola Byrne, warned that the NHS must address concerns about perceived advantage of bidders like Palantir.

We have contacted Palantir for comment.