The German Federal Ministry of the Interior has refuted reports suggesting a predetermined assessment for the exclusive use of US-based company Palantir’s data analytics software across all federal police forces.
A spokesperson for the Ministry, speaking to the Funke-Mediengruppe newspapers, confirmed that a review of “various options” is underway. The spokesperson emphasized that the evaluation is being conducted “openly, regarding both outcomes and technology” and that it is “based on the professional and substantive requirements without prior product specification”. The process also takes into consideration the guidelines established by the Interior Ministers’ Conference (IMK).
Initial reporting by “Der Stern” had indicated that Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) was considering a nationwide deployment of the software. Palantir, a company known to be subject to scrutiny and concerns from various political and civil society groups, has faced repeated warnings regarding its use.
Despite the reported broader examination, the Ministry maintains that Palantir is considered a leading provider in the field. According to the Ministry, a Europe-wide procurement process, conducted by the Bavarian State Criminal Investigation Office with the involvement of the Federal Ministry of the Interior, identified Palantir Technologie GmbH’s software as the only commercially available solution to meet the stringent requirements defined.
