Thread by @wendyranderson

After spending almost 6 years at #Palantir, I know something about what they do and what they don't do. As a result, I want to address the inaccuracies in the 6/30 @nytimes article that's been picked up by multiple outlets this week. 🧵 1/11
nytimes.com/2025/05/30/tec…

In this thread, I speak solely for myself. I departed Palantir in April (and will share my new chapter soon!). My purpose here is simple: to call for honest and accurate reporting—especially in an era increasingly shaped by distortion and #disinformation. 2/11

Plenty of people have valid criticisms of Palantir—I at times raised concerns while there, as the culture encourages. I believe in speaking up. I also believe in getting the facts right and straight. Criticize what you find problematic—but start with the truth. 3/11

INACCURACY #1: The headline "Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans" is fundamentally wrong. Palantir doesn't do that. They provide software that helps organizations analyze data those organizations already possess. 4/11blog.palantir.com/palantir-is-no…

INACCURACY #2: The article suggests Palantir is building a "master database." That's not how Foundry works. It's a data integration platform that connects to existing systems. Read more about Foundry here: 5/11palantir.com/platforms/foun…

INACCURACY #3: "Which could easily merge data on Americans" - this framing makes standard enterprise data integration sound sinister. Many companies and government agencies use similar tools to work with data across multiple systems. This isn't unique or nefarious technology. 6/11

INACCURACY #4: The article seems to conflate what software CAN do with what it IS doing. Yes, data integration tools can theoretically be misused - so can Excel, SQL databases, or any data tool. The article provides no evidence of misuse, only fear about possibilities. 7/11

INACCURACY #5: Describing routine government IT modernization as surveillance infrastructure. Agencies updating their data systems and analytics capabilities is normal. 8/11

ACCURATE STATEMENT: Palantir has said they're "a data processor, not a data controller." Clients define what data is accessed and how it's used. This is a crucial distinction the article glosses over while creating surveillance panic. Again, Palantir does not collect, store, or sell personal data. 9/11palantir.com/alpha/

The article takes standard enterprise software functionality and frames it as dangerous surveillance tech. It's like writing a scary article about Excel because it "could be used to track Americans" if someone put personal data in spreadsheets. 10/11

Palantir is a public company in a democracy with a robust First Amendment—of course, there are legitimate things to scrutinize and criticize (as w any company), from contracts to clients to strategy. Dr. Karp himself has said countless times: “We built Palantir with the idea that dissent is not only acceptable but required.” But don't misrepresent what their software does. Facts matter. 11/11