The Swiss government has ended its contract with American analytics company Palantir, after federal agencies in the country rejected Palantir at least nine times over seven years. The reason? Security concerns that should make other countries think carefully:
- Risk of US intelligence gaining access to sensitive data
- Potential loss of national sovereignty
- Dependence upon foreign specialists in crisis situations
Swiss authorities won't touch their software with a bargepole.
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Meanwhile, the UK has signed contracts worth over £800 million with Palantir for NHS and Ministry of Defence systems. British MPs are now asking awkward questions about why their due diligence has reached such a different conclusion.
Switzerland chose sovereignty over convenience. They chose not to risk using Palantir.
Other countries should be asking themselves: if Switzerland deemed these risks unacceptable, what are we missing?
What do you think?
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Switzerland is showing the way, while making some very reasonable points.
I suspect the rest of Europe will follow. The UK, I am not so sure.
Graham Cluley
Parade du Grotesque 💀
Tais Hansen