In April 2020, as the first wave of Covid-19 ripped through the UK, it was revealed that Palantir, a data engineering company, was providing pro bono support to Downing Street and the NHS. There was immediate speculation about its plans to extend its reach through the British state.
The company, which was founded by the right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel in 2003, had deployed 45 staff to a government project supporting pandemic policymaking. Our analysis suggested the project cost the company about £88,000 a week in wage bills. In exchange for the contract, which did not go to competitive tender, Palantir was paid £1.
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