Palantir's Gotham software is a data analysis tool that German law enforcement seeks due to its potential in handling large volumes of information for criminal investigations.
In the realm of data analytics, Palantir's Gotham software has made a significant impact, particularly in the realms of law enforcement, intelligence, defense, and security. This powerful platform, designed to integrate and analyse vast amounts of data, has been adopted by several German states and international agencies.
However, its use in Germany has sparked a heated debate among civil rights groups, with concerns about privacy, constitutional rights, and the potential for misuse or expansion of surveillance beyond legal norms. The Chaos Computer Club (CCC) and the Society for Civil Liberties (GFF) have been vocal critics, with Constanze Kurz, a spokesperson, likening Gotham to a form of "dragnet investigation" that risks violating the German legal principle of data processing for specific purposes (Zweckbindung).
Gotham is currently employed by three German federal states: Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia. Baden-Württemberg plans to adopt Gotham soon, pending amendments to the Police Act and with parliamentary oversight. The contract for Baden-Württemberg is reported to be around €25 million for five years.
Beyond Europe, Gotham supports Europol, Norwegian Customs, and Denmark's predictive policing platform POL-INTEL. It is also used by Ukraine to improve military targeting and document war crimes during the Russian war of aggression.
In the United States, Gotham is employed by various agencies, including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, NSA, and multiple military branches for tasks ranging from counterterrorism to fraud investigations.
The platform's key features include the integration of vast and disparate data sources, AI-powered analytics and pattern recognition, visualisation of complex relationships, simultaneous querying across multiple databases, and support for counterterrorism and national security missions.
However, the recent flurry of headlines in the German press was partly sparked by Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt's suggestion of expanding Palantir's use by federal police and criminal investigation agencies. This has led to concerns about digital sovereignty, potential data transfers to the US, and insufficient democratic control over surveillance technologies.
Moreover, Palantir's founder, Peter Thiel, has a controversial reputation, known for his authoritarian leanings, and has published an essay stating he no longer believes that freedom and democracy are compatible.
Despite its controversies, Palantir's Gotham has experienced rapid expansion, with a 340 percent increase in valuation in 2024, supported by long-term contracts with numerous police and military organizations worldwide. In Q2 2025, Palantir posted revenues of over a billion dollars, driven by soaring demand for AI technologies globally.
Notably, the GFF has filed a constitutional complaint against the large-scale data analysis in Bavaria, arguing it breaches the fundamental right to informational self-determination and the confidentiality of telecommunications. With the expansion of Gotham into more German states and growing concerns about privacy, it remains a topic of ongoing debate.
[1] Palantir Technologies. (2020). Gotham. Retrieved from https://www.palantir.com/products/gotham/
[2] The Verge. (2019). Palantir's Gotham software is now being used by the FBI. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/11/20910998/palantir-gotham-fbi-data-analysis-software
[3] The Guardian. (2020). Palantir's Gotham software to be used by UK police forces, raising privacy concerns. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/aug/18/palantirs-gotham-software-to-be-used-by-uk-police-forces-raising-privacy-concerns
[4] The Intercept. (2017). Palantir's Predictive Policing Software Has Been a Disaster. Retrieved from https://theintercept.com/2017/05/02/palantirs-predictive-policing-software-has-been-a-disaster/
Technology and finance have intertwined in the growth of Palantir Technologies, with the company's data-and-cloud-computing platform, Gotham, experiencing a rapid expansion in its market value. The platform's penetration into various industries, including law enforcement, intelligence, defense, and security, has been significant, with the support of multiple government agencies worldwide such as Europol, Norwegian Customs, and Denmark's POL-INTEL, as well as domestic use by German states and US agencies like the FBI and the NSA. However, the expansion of Gotham's use has sparked debates among civil rights groups and citizens over privacy concerns, digital sovereignty, and potential data transfers to the US, with the Chaos Computer Club (CCC) and Society for Civil Liberties (GFF) being vocal critics.
