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The Trump administration has enlisted Palantir Technologies, a data analytics firm co-founded by Peter Thiel in 2003, to create a centralized database consolidating sensitive personal data on Americans, including tax records, Social Security details, and immigration status.
Palantir, known for its Gotham and Foundry platforms, specializes in analyzing vast datasets for government agencies like the Department of Defense and ICE, with recent contracts exceeding $113 million since Trump took office. The proposed “master database,” driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aims to streamline data sharing across various agencies, including the IRS and the Social Security Administration.
Independent journalist Laura Loomer, after meeting with Vice President JD Vance, Thiel’s former protégé, recently endorsed Palantir’s technology to track illegal aliens involved in the Los Angeles riots, reflecting her support for its immigration enforcement capabilities. Thiel, a billionaire and early Trump supporter who mentored Vance, co-founded Palantir with a focus on counterterrorism and surveillance, backed by CIA investments. Vance’s rise to prominence was fueled by Thiel’s financial support, including $15 million for his Senate campaign, tying him closely to Palantir’s interests.
Supporters argue the database could enhance law enforcement’s ability to track criminals, such as through predictive policing tools already used by agencies like the LAPD. Critics, including former Palantir employees, warn that combining biometric, financial, and behavioral data risks creating an Orwellian surveillance state, potentially targeting dissenters or activists. The system, dubbed ImmigrationOS for ICE, is set to provide near-real-time tracking of immigrants, raising concerns about privacy violations and mission creep. These fears are amplified by Palantir’s history of enabling controversial surveillance, including its role in Israel’s military operations, prompting debates over its unchecked power in a digital age.
We want to ask you, the reader: do you support the integration of Palantir into the U.S. government? Answer in our poll below and comment on your thoughts on such an expansive database being implemented into the federal government’s agencies.
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