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Last Friday, a New York Times report unveiled the Trump administration's collaboration with Palantir, highlighting the potential creation of a comprehensive database containing information on every American. The implications of such a "master list" would grant the president extensive surveillance capabilities, causing alarm among privacy advocates.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order permitting data sharing across various U.S. government agencies. This move, which aims to dismantle information silos and improve government efficiency, is now under scrutiny due to its potential privacy ramifications. Trump has enlisted Palantir, a tech firm with close ties to the administration, to spearhead this initiative. Established by Trump and Republican supporter Peter Thiel, Palantir's technology could consolidate data from agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Internal Revenue Service.

Palantir's capabilities in data aggregation are well-documented. The company, co-founded in the early 2000s by billionaire Peter Thiel, Joe Lonsdale, Stephen Cohen, and Alex Karp, has a history of working with the U.S. military and intelligence sectors. Beyond its federal engagements, Palantir also serves a range of corporate clients, though its operations often remain shrouded in secrecy. The firm's extensive data mining abilities and surveillance cooperations have sparked significant controversy over the years, especially from data privacy advocates.

The Times' report explicates how the current administration's plan, driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under Elon Musk, specifically selected Palantir for the task. This initiative is intended to streamline data collection across all agencies, purportedly to increase government efficiency and save taxpayer money. However, the specter of a centralized database poses a troubling scenario for many privacy watchdogs.

Critics' concerns are not without precedent. For example, Palantir played a contentious role in aiding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) track immigrants in the U.S., a program widely criticized for its harsh deportation policies. Additionally, Palantir has worked with Health and Human Services to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, showcasing their expertise in handling sensitive data on a national scale.

Palantir's financial relationship with the federal government is formidable. In 2025 alone, Palantir has secured over $113 million from federal contracts. The Department of Defense also awarded the company an impressive $795 million contract recently. Altogether, Palantir's revenues from federal engagements totaled $1.2 billion in 2024, underscoring its significant reliance on government deals.

The close association between Palantir and the Trump administration extends beyond financial contracts. Peter Thiel, a major Republican donor with substantial contributions to Trump’s 2016 campaign, remains an influential figure. This symbiotic relationship raises questions about the potential conflicts of interest and the ethical implications of private corporations managing extensive personal data on behalf of the government.

As the Trump administration continues to pursue its data sharing and consolidation objectives, the collaboration with Palantir remains a contentious and closely watched issue. Privacy advocates, former employees, and the general public will undoubtedly scrutinize these developments in the weeks and months to come.