Palantir Chief Executive Embraces 'Anti-Woke' Stance
Alex Karp, the founder and CEO of the data analytics firm Palantir, has made a bold declaration during a recent earnings call, positioning his company as the first to be 'completely anti-woke.' Karp repeatedly emphasised Palantir's commitment to supporting the 'American warfighter' and its dedication to free speech principles. He told investors the company is fighting for what is right in the United States, a mission that includes developing 'lethal technology' and creating products that benefit working-class men and women.
Booming Business and Global Defence Contracts
The controversial stance appears to be commercially successful. Palantir reported a staggering $1.2 billion in revenue for the third quarter ending in September, representing a huge 63 percent year-over-year increase. Karp, whose personal wealth is estimated at $18.4 billion largely due to the company's stock performance, proudly detailed Palantir's involvement with various government agencies. He specifically highlighted its work powering Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and defence efforts globally.
'We power efforts to defend America and Ukraine,' Karp stated. 'We're on the front line of all adversaries, including vis-a-vis China... and we've supported Israel.' He expressed bewilderment that this work is considered controversial, adding, 'I don't know why this is all controversial, but many people find that controversial.'
Internal Division and a Major Immigration Contract
Not everyone within Palantir is aligned with this political direction. The company's own communications chief, Lisa Gordon, voiced concern during an interview at a summit hosted by The Information in late October. She described the company's political shift as 'concerning,' noting that 'a lot of the company is moving pro-Trump.' Gordon characterised Karp as 'very progressive' but suggested that his 'frustration with the Democrats has moved him in a certain direction.' This is a notable shift, as Karp had previously supported Kamala Harris.
Karp's recent comments confirm his support for former President Trump's posture on immigration and national security. This pivot followed a significant $30 million contract awarded to Palantir in April to build 'ImmigrationOS' for ICE. This system assists the agency in deciding who to deport and tracking individuals who are self-deporting. The Department of Homeland Security began using the tool in late September, despite legal challenges from privacy advocates who argue it violates civil rights. Palantir has defended its role, stating it merely provides a tool and does not actively make deportation decisions.
A Long History of Government Surveillance Work
Palantir's relationship with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security is not new. It dates back to at least 2010, when it first supplied the FALCON system to the Homeland Security Investigations division. This system, which remains in use, allows ICE agents to perform detailed searches on criminal suspects using a vast array of data, including phone records, driver's licenses, employment history, and financial transactions.
The company has also extended its predictive analytics to domestic policing. It worked with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) on 'Operation Laser,' a predictive policing program that used Palantir software to forecast crime hotspots. The LAPD shut down the program in April 2019 after critics condemned it as a form of discrimination against minority communities. A similar, clandestine arrangement with the New Orleans Police Department ran from 2012 to 2018 before being terminated once it became public knowledge.
