Palantir CEO Alex Karp responded to growing internal criticism regarding the company’s collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by releasing a pre-recorded video discussion to employees. The move follows weeks of internal unrest, sparked by worker questions about how Palantir’s products are used in immigration enforcement, particularly in light of controversial ICE actions.
The hour-long video, shared via email by Palantir’s global director of privacy and civil liberties engineering, Courtney Bowman, does not directly address specific concerns about the company’s ICE contracts or product capabilities. Instead, Karp frames Palantir’s work as essential to maintaining Western power structures, a theme consistent with his public statements and recent book.
Karp defends Palantir’s involvement with ICE by arguing that immigration enforcement has been a bipartisan priority. He cites former President Barack Obama’s stance on balancing immigration with legal enforcement, suggesting that the demand for Palantir’s tools exists regardless of the administration in power. Karp further claims that entities intending to operate outside the law would not purchase Palantir’s products, given their inherent transparency.
However, the video offers limited practical insight into how Palantir’s technology functions within ICE operations. Karp instead proposes that employees sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) for more detailed briefings, a move that further frustrated some workers who have already voiced concerns about a lack of transparency. Bowman’s accompanying email frames the video as a first step toward increased openness but provides no timeline for further disclosures.
The internal pressure on Palantir leadership escalated following the shooting death of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents last month. Employees flooded internal Slack channels with questions about the company’s role in facilitating ICE enforcement, including how its products contribute to the agency’s objectives. Internal documentation has revealed that Palantir recently concluded a six-month pilot program supporting ICE efforts to identify deportation targets and track self-deportations. Another pilot is underway with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to detect potential fraud in benefit applications.
Karp acknowledges the company’s controversial position, stating, “There is no history of Palantir where we’re 100 percent popular.” He suggests that internal resistance is not necessarily detrimental, implying that the company thrives despite, or even because of, such conflicts.
The lack of substantial answers in the video, coupled with the NDA requirement, leaves many employees dissatisfied. The incident highlights a broader tension within Palantir between its commitment to technological innovation and the ethical implications of its partnerships with government agencies involved in sensitive law enforcement operations.
