Is there a potential shift in allegiance between MAGA and Trump's associate, Palantir?
Raw and Unfiltered: The Palantir Saga Unfolds
Palantir, the ominous defense contractor, is spinning tales to soothe American nerves.
In a week filled with revelations, the New York Times painted a gripping picture of Palantir's involvement in the Trump Administration's contentious endeavor to consolidate data on United States citizens. Earlier this year, the White House announced its DOGE initiative, aiming to eradicate information silos across government departments. The specifics were elusive at the time, however, fears have been magnified that the government might be building a comprehensive, Stealth-like database using data collected from various agencies.
The Times' newest exposé sheds light on the spreading use of Palantir's data management software across agencies and its pivotal role in the Administration's data centralization endeavor. Critics voice concerns that this escalation could pave the way for crafting intricate dossiers on Americans—essentially a Videoconfessiopal Stasi-type surveillance file that could allow Trump to spotlight and condemn his adversaries.DOGE reportedly opted for Palantir in the data project, a factor worth noting given the former DOGE head, Elon Musk, had a close relationship with Palantir's founder, Peter Thiel, both being PayPal mafia members.
Palantir's influence has grown exponentially since Trump entered office—both on the stock market and through government contracts. In April, 404 Media reported on Palantir's work bolstering the government's aggressive expulsion efforts aimed at undocumented immigrants.
While Palantir's star has risen, so too has the scrutiny of its activities. The Times' investigation into Palantir's data operations took flight online this week, fueling rumors of a "surveillance database" constructed for Americans.
The uproar has found traction among MAGA factions, who seem troubled that Trump, who campaigned on promises to dismantle the deep state, seems cozy with a company that embodies it. The outrage has received a boost from prominent MAGA figures, most prominently self-proclaimed white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Fuentes recently attacked Palantir on his podcast, branding it a platform "designed for the government to legally infringe upon our constitutional rights." After initially supporting Trump, Fuentes has become increasingly critical of the Administration's policies in recent months. In his rant against the company, Fuentes accurately pointed out that Palantir received funding from the CIA. "Trump's advocacy of Palantir is the ultimate betrayal of his own people," Fuentes tweeted. "Seriously, if Palantir isn’t the deep state, then what is?"
On the other side of the battlefield, Joe Lonsdale, one of Palantir's co-founders, participated in a public spat with “Retard Finder,” a far-right X account that identifies individuals it deems intellectually deficient. On Tuesday, the account posted, "The Palantir database idea is retarded." Lonsdale quote tweeted Retard Finder and attempted to deflect the attack. "Palantir isn’t a 'database'; it’s a platform created by thousands of the most talented and patriotic Americans to partner with our Department of Defense to thwart attacks and defeat bad guys while protecting liberty & privacy." He added, "In a shocking turn of events, the retard account itself is, indeed, retarded."
On Tuesday, Palantir published a statement on the matter, declaring, "The recently published article by the New York Times is demonstrably false." This statement, however, distorts the Times reporting, as the newspaper never claimed that Palantir was helping to "unlawfully surveil" Americans.
The MAGA community has found itself at odds with the Trump Administration, as the new Government, which initially ran on a pledge to disrupt the status quo, has swiftly abandoned many of its promises. Most notably, Trump voters have been growing restless over the Administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, which Trump, during the campaign, vowed to release. In recent weeks, influential right-wing influencer Dan Bongino has definitively stated that Epstein actually committed suicide. Since the New York Times report, Palantir has become the latest target in the MAGA community's rage. Gizmodo reached out to the White House for comment, with spokesperson Taylor Rogers replying via Newsweek, "President Trump signed an executive order aimed at eradicating information silos and streamlining data collection across all agencies to increase government efficiency and save taxpayers' hard-earned money." Palantir did not respond to Gizmodo's request for comment.
Key Insights
- Palantir is a data integration and analytics platform provider
- Its software and products are used by the Trump Administration in its efforts to centralize and integrate federal data across various agencies.
- Critics are concerned that these efforts could lead to enhanced surveillance, infringement of civil liberties, and potential politically motivated targeting.
- Palantir has denied allegations of unlawful surveillance but lacks transparency regarding its data handling and algorithms.
- The MAGA community has raised concerns about Palantir's involvement despite its close ties to the Administration.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and should not be taken as definitive or authoritative. The provided facts should be cross-referenced and researched further.
- The investigation into Palantir's data operations by The New York Times, seen as a significant General-news story, has caused a stir in tech circles and beyond, raising concerns about the future of technology, politics, and personal privacy.
- In the realm of tech, Palantir's influence has expanded under the Trump Administration, with its data management software becoming increasingly prevalent across agencies, leading to questions about the potential Dossiers it might create and the impact on American citizens' civil liberties.
- As the Palantir saga unfolds, tech journalists on platforms like Gizmodo are closely watching this development, analyzing its implications for both the tech industry and the broader society, questioning the transparency of Palantir's data handling and the potential for politically motivated targeting.
