Fighting Back Against Palantir: Organizing Against the Surveillance State
A Call to Action: Defend Our Privacy, Protect Our Communities
Palantir Technologies, conceived in the heart of Silicon Valley by Peter Thiel and his cohorts, has become more than just a tech company—it has morphed into the backbone of a sprawling surveillance state. Its powerful data analytics platforms are not just tools for efficiency; they are instruments of control, wielded by government agencies, law enforcement, and corporations to track, monitor, and target individuals, often violating basic civil liberties and human rights.
This is not merely a corporate issue; it’s a human issue. It’s about families torn apart, communities living in fear, and the erosion of freedoms we hold dear. This is a call—not just to read, but to rise.
Palantir’s Role in Surveillance and Civil Rights Violations
Tracking Immigrants and Non-Citizens
Palantir’s technology is the silent force behind many of ICE’s operations. Through its Investigative Case Management (ICM) system and Immigration Lifecycle Operating System (ImmigrationOS), Palantir integrates vast amounts of data to track, detain, and deport immigrants. These aren’t just numbers and profiles—they are people: parents, children, neighbors.1
ICM enables ICE to dive into real-time personal data, linking individuals across jurisdictions, while ImmigrationOS supercharges deportation operations.2 3These tools have become the engines driving mass detentions and heartbreaking family separations. This must stop.
Expanding the Surveillance State
Palantir’s reach doesn’t end with immigration. Its claws extend into the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, local police departments, and beyond. Through platforms like Gotham and Foundry, it fuels predictive policing, counterterrorism efforts, and even pandemic response—often under the guise of "public safety."4
But safety should never come at the cost of freedom. Under previous administrations, Palantir expanded its grip, helping consolidate sensitive personal data, putting every American at risk of unwarranted scrutiny. This isn't security—it’s systemic overreach.56
Organizing Against Palantir: Your Voice Matters
1. Amplify Public Awareness
Knowledge is power. Use it.
Expose the Human Cost: Share stories of families devastated by Palantir-enabled ICE raids.
Educate on Data Risks: Help others understand how centralized data can be manipulated and abused.
Elevate Employee Testimonies: Support former Palantir insiders who bravely reveal the company’s dark underbelly.7
2. Boycotts and Divestment: Hit Where It Hurts—The Wallet
Money speaks. Silence it.
Target Palantir’s Clients: Pressure local governments to sever contracts. Activists did it in New Orleans—we can do it again.8
Push for Divestment: Urge universities, pension funds, and institutions to pull investments. Ethical investing is powerful.
Call Out Corporate Partners: Expose private companies complicit in Palantir’s surveillance web.
3. Legal Action: Demand Accountability
Justice isn’t passive. Pursue it.
Challenge Contracts: Fight the legality of Palantir’s government agreements, especially those that infringe on privacy rights.9
Leverage Privacy Laws: Use the Privacy Act of 1974 to curb invasive data practices.
4. Empower Employee Activism: Break the Silence from Within
Change often begins internally.
Support Whistleblowers: Offer legal protection and moral support to those daring enough to speak out.
Mobilize Tech Workers: Collaborate with activist groups to unite voices across the tech industry.
Hurting Palantir Economically: Starve the Beast
Lobby for Change: Demand lawmakers at all levels terminate contracts with Palantir.
Expose Wasteful Spending: Publicize Palantir’s exorbitant costs to taxpayers. Let fiscal responsibility become a rallying cry.10
Disrupt Recruitment: Discourage top talent from joining a company that profits off surveillance and oppression.11
Conclusion: Stand Up, Speak Out, Fight Back
Palantir Technologies isn’t just a company—it’s a symbol of how technology can be twisted into a tool for suppression. But we are not powerless. Through collective action, unrelenting advocacy, and unwavering courage, we can dismantle the systems that threaten our freedoms.
This fight isn’t just about Palantir. It’s about safeguarding our future. It’s about ensuring technology serves humanity—not controls it.
Join us. Speak up. Take action. Because when we fight together, we win.
For More Information on Palantir, download this research document.
