The U.K.’s National Health Service (NHS) is launching an investigation into Palantir Technologies Inc. PLTR over concerns of a potential breach of contract terms. This comes just a week after Palantir secured a controversial deal with the NHS. The American software company was tasked with developing a patient data platform but allegedly violated the contract’s terms with an influencer marketing campaign.
The campaign, managed by Topham Guerin, aimed to address data privacy concerns but was not cleared with NHS England. According to Bloomberg, the contract stipulates that prior written consent is required for any marketing activities. Palantir labeled the campaign as an exploratory project that didn’t materialize. However, the NHS takes any potential breach seriously and is now looking into the matter.
The contract, which was published in December, explicitly states that Palantir cannot make press announcements or reference the NHS in marketing campaigns without prior consent. Palantir is no longer working with Topham Guerin and won the contract with Accenture Plc to build the Federated Data Platform for the NHS, worth £330 million ($419 million).
Patient advocacy groups, including the Good Law Project, have raised concerns about Palantir’s involvement in handling private medical data. Transparency regarding data processing has been questioned, and Palantir has accused the Good Law Project of spreading misinformation about its work.
The aim of the marketing campaign was to counter allegations and educate the public about Palantir’s contract. Influencers were contacted to post content highlighting the company’s support of the NHS’ COVID-19 vaccine rollout and refute claims of selling patient data.
This potential breach further complicates Palantir’s already scrutinized role in reshaping the NHS patient data system. The Good Law Project has been a vocal critic, emphasizing concerns about data security and the lack of transparency surrounding the platform’s processing of patient information.
The investigation will shed light on whether Palantir’s actions align with the contract terms and how the company has managed the delicate balance between public perception and data management.
It is worth noting that one briefing document referred to the Good Law Project’s criticism as extremely critical and accused the organization of spreading misinformation online.
In conclusion, the NHS is investigating Palantir Technologies Inc. over a potential breach of contract terms following a controversial influencer marketing campaign. This raises further concerns about data security and transparency surrounding the company’s involvement in the NHS patient data system. The investigation will provide more clarity on the situation and assess whether Palantir has adhered to contractual obligations.
