The German Interior Ministry, under Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), is currently reviewing the potential nationwide deployment of VeRA, an analysis software developed by the controversial U.S. company Palantir. A ministry spokesperson confirmed to “Stern” magazine that this evaluation is “the subject of an ongoing review” with no conclusive outcome yet determined.
The prospect of wider adoption has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. Konstantin von Notz, Vice-Chairman of the Green Party faction, accused Dobrindt of unwavering support for Palantir, suggesting he is acting as a “lobbyist” for the U.S. company, particularly concerning given current geopolitical uncertainties.
SPD parliamentarian Johannes Schätzl echoed these concerns, characterizing Palantir not as a neutral IT service provider, but as a company with deep ties to U.S. intelligence agencies and clear geopolitical interests. He expressed firm opposition to its use within German security agencies.
Conversely, Jens Spahn, parliamentary group chairman of the CDU, voiced his support for the software’s deployment. He argued that facial recognition technology, artificial intelligence and a solution like Palantir would significantly aid law enforcement in combating crime, stating that criminals are leveraging digital tools and that the state must adapt its capabilities within legal boundaries.
Pressure for nationwide implementation of VeRA had previously been exerted by states including Bavaria, where it’s already in use and other CDU-led Länder during a recent Interior Ministers’ Conference. According to internal documents obtained by “Stern”, the initiative reportedly stalled due to opposition from the SPD, which sought to preclude the use of Palantir.
Public resistance is also mounting; a petition against the software developed by tech billionaire Peter Thiel has garnered over 250,000 signatures. Legal action has been initiated, with the Society for Civil Rights filing a constitutional complaint in Karlsruhe last week.
