Post #857877

2026-01-02 08:40 UTC

🧵 My sense of justice was triggered by #Palantir corporate gaslighting two Swiss investigative journalists on LinkedIn. This is something most people won’t even see, but I was angry, so I looked while my kid was still asleep. Here’s what it looks like when tech bros attack journalists while you and I have too much food over Christmas. Two Swiss journalists spent a year filing 59 #FOIA requests to document Palantir’s 7-year campaign to sell surveillance software to Swiss authorities (army and health services in particular). 📄: https://www.republik.ch/2025/12/09/warum-palantir-zum-risiko-fuer-die-schweiz-wird The Swiss army’s internal report concluded they couldn’t rule out US intelligence accessing data through Palantir systems, despite reassurances. Their story hit The Guardian, and #UK MPs are now questioning £825M in Palantir contracts. 📄: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/dec/22/mps-question-uk-palantir-contracts-security-concerns-investigation The journalists were rejoicing on LinkedIn. It’s a big deal to have your story picked up by mainstream UK media, especially after a year of hard work. This is where it gets ugly.

Replies (7)

@diemkay@hachyderm.io 2026-01-02 08:40

Under the journalists profiles, where most people will never see it, Palantir’s PR machine kicked into gear via some rep. 📄: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/adriennefichter_mps-question-uk-palantir-contracts-after-activity-7408904764916248577-wvXQ Palantir published a “correction” claiming the journalists misrepresented their work. Except they “corrected” claims the journalists never made. 📄: https://blog.palantir.com/korrektur-wie-das-online-magazin-die-republik-einen-regierungsbericht-zu-palantir-verdrehte-9a1b399ae255 Palantir built a straw man saying they never officially participated in any RFP or formal government procurement process. And that either way, it’s not a big deal that they sometimes demo the software. So what? What the journalists actually wrote: that Palantir engaged in 7 (seven!) years of informal contact attempts, sales conversations, and exchange meetings with Swiss officials. Journalist Adrienne Fichter called them out in the comments: “I am still waiting for the list of wrong claims and facts in our 2 articles. We never wrote any of [what you claim].” (My edit for brevity) The Palantir rep’s LinkedIn comment got 20 likes from his tech bro allies. One even called the journalists part of the “bipolar ludditic left.” Casually weaponizing mental health stigma while completely misunderstanding what Luddites actually fought against (*cough* exploitation). Meanwhile, these journalists who spent a year doing actual investigative work, who filed dozens of FOIA requests, who read through military reports and health service evaluations barely had anyone come to their defense in that same space. They are now fending for themselves as they should, but the asymmetry is jarring.

Open ##2430845
@0mega@sk.zehnvorne.social 2026-01-02 10:37

@kkarhan@infosec.space INDECT, something I haven't heard in a while. What happened to it? @diemkay@hachyderm.io

Open ##2430866
@0mega@sk.zehnvorne.social 2026-01-02 10:54

@kkarhan@infosec.space Nice :neocat_cool: (at least for the riddance of INDECT). I hope we'll similarly get rid of Palantir :neocat_happy: @diemkay@hachyderm.io

Open ##2430867
@Rastal@mastodon.social 2026-01-02 10:57

@diemkay@hachyderm.io Palantir is a front company for CIA. Data given to Palantir is absolutely data given to US intelligence.

Open ##2430874
@Mux@swingset.social 2026-01-02 12:03

@diemkay@hachyderm.io LinkedIn is deep in enemy territory.

Open ##2430875
@CassandraVert@indieweb.social 2026-01-02 17:51

They should worry more about Palantir helping dictators a la Starlink and Ukraine. Surveillance tech is a fascism tool.

Open ##2430876
@zl2tod@mastodon.online 2026-01-02 23:29

@diemkay@hachyderm.io tag #CitizenThiel

Open ##2430877