Labor Groups Urge USA Today Owner to Sever Partnership with Palantir

Labor unions representing employees at USA Today parent company Gannett have formally requested that the media conglomerate end its business relationship with data analytics firm Palantir Technologies Inc.. The call to action centers on ethical concerns regarding Palantir’s work with government agencies and its software applications.

The unions are challenging the continued use of Palantir’s platforms, which are widely known for their integration with military and intelligence networks. Palantir specializes in “Software – Infrastructure” within the technology sector, notably providing its Gotham platform to assist the intelligence community in counterterrorism investigations and operations across the United States, United Kingdom, and internationally.

The dispute highlights a growing friction between corporate technology vendors and employee advocacy groups regarding the end-use of defense-related software. While Palantir secures government contracts for data integration and analysis, its association with defense and intelligence work has increasingly drawn scrutiny from organizations focused on civil liberties and corporate social responsibility.

From a market perspective, Palantir currently holds a substantial presence in the technology sector. The company’s market capitalization stands at approximately $379.8 billion. In recent trading activity, shares saw movement, with the stock price reaching $175.23, representing a session increase of 1.99% compared to the previous close of $171.81.

What to watch

• Official response from Gannett management regarding the union’s demands.
• Future contract announcements from Palantir involving government or intelligence agencies.
• Upcoming earnings reports for Palantir that may detail commercial versus government revenue breakdown.

Source: original release