London Mayor’s Correspondence Under Review as Palantir–Met Police Agreement Draws Scrutiny

Text messages and emails sent by London Mayor Sadiq Khan are set to be searched following an information request connected to the ongoing controversy over the Metropolitan Police’s relationship with Palantir Technologies, according to reporting by The Jewish Chronicle.

The review of the Mayor’s communications stems from freedom of information pressure tied to questions about how the deal between the Met Police and the data analytics firm was negotiated and approved. The arrangement, which involves Palantir software being used within the UK’s largest police force, has drawn criticism from privacy campaigners and some London Assembly members who have sought greater transparency around the procurement process.

Khan, who chairs the Metropolitan Police Authority and holds oversight responsibility for policing in the capital, has faced repeated questioning about his office’s involvement in the contract. The decision to search his correspondence indicates that oversight bodies are seeking documentary evidence of discussions that took place before and during the agreement’s development.

Market Context: Palantir’s UK Public-Sector Footprint

The scrutiny comes at a time of strong momentum for Palantir Technologies (PLTR) in public markets. The Denver-based software company, which builds data integration platforms used by intelligence and defence customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and internationally, saw its shares close at $182.66, up 7.48% from the previous close of $169.95, giving the company a market capitalisation of approximately $439.7 billion.

Palantir’s Gotham platform, its flagship product for government and defence clients, integrates with other systems to support data analysis across large organisations. UK public-sector bodies, including police forces and the National Health Service, have been among the company’s international customers, making British procurement debates commercially relevant to the firm’s overseas growth.

Public-sector data contracts in the UK have increasingly attracted scrutiny from civil liberties groups concerned about governance, data protection, and the boundaries between commercial vendors and law enforcement. The Palantir–Met Police arrangement has become one of the more closely watched examples of that broader debate.

What to watch

• Publication of the findings from the search of the Mayor’s correspondence, and any disclosure of communications relating to the Met Police contract.
• Further statements from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) or the Information Commissioner’s Office on the transparency request.
• Palantir’s upcoming quarterly earnings report and any commentary on UK or European public-sector revenue.
• Additional oversight hearings or London Assembly questions on police technology procurement.

Source: original release