Palantir Technologies, a data analytics firm that been tapped by the US government, has issued a sharp rebuttal to a New York Times' article accusing the company of enabling unlawful surveillance of Americans. The controversy, which erupted following May 30 article, has reignited debates over privacy, government overreach, and the role of technology in the Trump administration's data-sharing initiatives.
"The recently published article by the New York Times is blatantly untrue. Palantir never collects data to unlawfully surveil Americans, and our Foundry platform employs granular security protections. If the facts were on its side, the New York Times would not have needed to twist the truth," Palantir said on X.
The statement directly challenges the New York Times' reporting, which, according to a related MSNBC article, detailed Palantir's expanding role in the Trump administration's efforts to merge data across federal agencies. The MSNBC piece highlighted concerns that Palantir's negotiations with agencies like the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) could lead to unprecedented surveillance capabilities, potentially creating a centralized database of Americans' personal information.
The recently published article by the New York Times is blatantly untrue.
Palantir never collects data to unlawfully surveil Americans, and our Foundry platform employs granular security protections. If the facts were on its side, the New York Times would not have needed to…
— Palantir (@PalantirTech) June 3, 2025
Palantir's response emphasizes the security features of its Foundry platform, which the company claims includes "granular security protections." According to Palantir's official website, these features are designed for "security-conscious customers" handling sensitive data like Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Protected Health Information (PHI), and even classified government data.
The backdrop: Trump's data-sharing push
The controversy stems from a broader initiative by the Trump administration to centralize federal data. In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order mandating that federal agencies share unclassified data, granting designated officials "full and prompt access" to records and systems, according to a Nextgov/FCW report. The order also requires access to state program data funded by the federal government, raising fears of overreach among civil liberties advocates.
Palantir has emerged as a key player in this initiative, with its Foundry and Gotham platforms positioned to integrate data from agencies like the SSA, IRS, and immigration services. An Economic Times article described the potential for a "vast federal data platform" capable of flagging fraud, tracking behavior, and shaping government decisions. However, the same report noted concerns from civil liberties groups that such a system could become a "digital dragnet," disproportionately targeting marginalized communities and enabling political misuse.
