More than 44,000 individuals have formally lodged data protection objections against the Federated Data Platform, a nationwide NHS England system powered by US technology company Palantir. The coordinated campaign invokes rights established under UK data protection legislation, requiring the NHS to cease processing personal health information through the platform unless it can demonstrate a compelling reason to proceed. The objectors have also requested that the NHS suspend data processing through Palantir while their primary request is evaluated.
Opposition to the Palantir contract has intensified due to the company’s involvement in various government operations. Critics point to the firm’s work supporting the Israeli military and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with activists staging demonstrations outside Palantir’s London offices. Two House of Commons select committees have called for Labour to invoke a break clause in the seven-year agreement, scheduled to commence in February 2027. A Greater Manchester official is expected to make a determination regarding continuation of the partnership within months, while hundreds of thousands have signed petitions urging cancellation of the £330m deal.
Palantir contends that the platform delivers substantial public health benefits by integrating fragmented NHS data systems and improving operational efficiency. The company reports that NHS trusts utilizing the technology have completed 117,000 additional surgical procedures, reduced discharge delays by 14.3% for long-stay patients, and improved cancer diagnosis timeframes by 5.6%. Palantir officials have characterized opposition to these claims as unfounded criticism. NHS England has stated that all organisations retain control of their data within the platform and that suppliers cannot access information for independent purposes.
Campaigners and healthcare advocates have raised concerns about data confidentiality and the trustworthiness of involving Palantir in sensitive health information management. A human rights organization and patient advocacy groups have questioned whether a company associated with conflicts overseas should participate in the UK health system. NHS leadership has acknowledged some public concern regarding whether claimed benefits align with actual healthcare improvements delivered by the platform.
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