Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir, defends the company's data ethics and ICE connections
Palantir CEO Alex Karp Defends Company Amid Criticism Over ICE Contracts
Palantir Technologies cofounder and CEO Alex Karp defended his company’s work with U.S. government agencies, rejecting accusations that its software enables surveillance or contributes to human rights abuses. His remarks came during the New York Times DealBook Summit, amid ongoing scrutiny of Palantir’s past contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement raids across the United States.
Palantir has long faced criticism from civil rights groups for providing data analysis tools used by ICE and other federal agencies. Critics have accused the company of facilitating deportations that disproportionately affect undocumented immigrants.
Karp, however, argued that such criticisms reflect a misunderstanding of both the technology and the broader moral context. Responding to concerns about families being separated by ICE, he said, “No American likes to see that… But at some point, you’re abusing empathy.” He stressed that public outrage often overlooks working-class Americans, particularly incarcerated or disenfranchised groups who receive little media attention.
“About 1% of the country is in prison. They lose their rights, they’re taken from their kids. That happens disproportionately to Black, Hispanic, and poor white men. Nobody cares, because it doesn’t serve a political agenda,” Karp added.
The Palantir CEO also emphasized the company’s support for working-class Americans. “At Palantir, we support people who go to the military. We help save their lives and bring them home safer,” he said. “Our AI actually makes workers more wealthy, more valuable.”
Addressing claims that Palantir products can be used for surveillance, Karp clarified that the company does not build or sell a database system. “The most absurd rumour is that we built a database in Israel and brought it here,” he said. “You don’t need us to build a database.” He explained that while Palantir tools integrate legally obtained data, the transparent design of the platform makes misuse nearly impossible. “Our product is the hardest in the world to misuse because every step is transparent. If you wanted to violate human rights, you’d leave a record of doing it.”
Karp also highlighted that Palantir refuses to work with governments engaged in mass surveillance. “We don’t work in Russia or China,” he said, adding that the company has terminated contracts with institutions seeking to surveil Muslim Americans.
