NHS doctors urged to abandon Palantir data platform over ICE ties

British doctors are being urged to pull back from the NHS Federated Data Platform (FDP) after their union called on members to stop non-clinical use of the Palantir-built system. The British Medical Association's (BMA) recommendation follows the US spy-tech firm's recent work with US Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The BMA, representing more than 200,000 doctors in the UK, has issued a stark warning about the implications of continuing to use Palantir's technology within the National Health Service. In a letter to the British Medical Journal, BMA chair of council Tom Dolphin wrote that doctors "can no longer provide the tacit endorsement that using a product implies" and must "immediately take steps to explore refusing any non-direct care usage of Palantir's Federated Data Platform."

Palantir's ICE connections spark patient trust concerns

The union's position stems from allegations that ICE used Palantir's bespoke Immigration OS platform to process and link formerly separate datasets, including medical records. Dolphin emphasized that "given Palantir's increasing centrality to our NHS, we must pay attention to the role Palantir plays in facilitating ICE's activities and the implications this has for patient confidence in an NHS working in partnership with them."

This concern reflects a broader anxiety about the intersection of healthcare data and immigration enforcement. The BMA chair noted that "where the NHS uses technology suppliers to manage patient data, it is essential that patients are able to trust that their data is safe and that the NHS remains in control."

Dolphin warned that if patients no longer feel able to trust the NHS to handle their data confidentially, "this will undermine public trust in a confidential health service. This will affect patients' willingness to seek care or their willingness to be candid with their doctor – which would be to the detriment of the safety and effectiveness of their treatment and to public health more generally."

NHS's controversial Palantir contract history

The FDP represents a significant expansion of Palantir's presence in UK public services. The US vendor initially secured £60 million in non-competitive pandemic contracts, starting with an initial £1 agreement. Later, Palantir won a £330 million competitive tender to provide the FDP, which NHS England – the world's largest healthcare provider – said would be core to clearing its pandemic backlog.

Critics have argued that allowing Palantir to carry over technical use cases from its COVID-era platform to the FDP may have skewed the competition. NHS England has maintained that the tender was fair and open, but the controversy has persisted.

Patient data security assurances under scrutiny

In response to privacy concerns, the soon-to-be-defunct NHS England quango previously stated that no company involved in the FDP would be able to access health and care data without the explicit permission of the NHS. All data within the platform is under the control of the NHS and will only be used for direct care and planning.

An NHS England official attempted to reassure the public in 2023 by likening patient data in the FDP to information in an online Microsoft Word document. They told The Register that the cloud operator has access to that document, but the user would not expect Microsoft to look at it.

However, the BMA's intervention suggests these assurances have failed to address fundamental concerns about the appropriateness of Palantir's involvement in the NHS. In a later interview with the BMJ, the BMA chief said: "Given Palantir's track record, including controversies in the US involving immigration enforcement and the risks to patient trust, data security, and NHS independence, we believe there must be a complete break from Palantir technologies in the NHS and no further contracts awarded."

Broader implications for NHS technology partnerships

The BMA's stance represents a significant challenge to the NHS's digital transformation strategy. The union's recommendation goes beyond mere criticism – it actively encourages doctors to explore alternatives and work toward moving away from the platform entirely when a suitable alternative can be put in place.

This development comes at a time when the NHS is grappling with significant backlogs and seeking technological solutions to improve efficiency. The tension between the need for advanced data analytics capabilities and concerns about data privacy and public trust has become increasingly apparent.

The controversy also highlights the complex relationship between UK public services and US technology companies with defense and intelligence sector connections. Palantir, founded by venture capitalist Peter Thiel and others with backgrounds in intelligence work, has faced scrutiny throughout its expansion into public sector contracts.

Patient trust at the heart of the debate

The BMA's intervention ultimately centers on a fundamental question: can patients trust that their sensitive medical information will remain confidential when processed through systems provided by a company with documented ties to immigration enforcement?

The union's position suggests that for many healthcare professionals, the answer is no. The potential chilling effect on patient care – where individuals might avoid seeking treatment or withhold crucial medical information due to privacy concerns – represents a serious threat to public health.

As the NHS continues to modernize its data infrastructure, it faces the challenge of balancing technological advancement with the preservation of patient trust. The BMA's call for a complete break from Palantir technologies may force a broader reckoning about the criteria used to select technology partners for the UK's healthcare system.

The Register has asked NHS England for comment on the BMA's recommendation, but the controversy surrounding the FDP and Palantir's role in it is likely to continue as doctors and patients alike grapple with the implications of this high-stakes data partnership.