Palantir and London Police Office Settle Contract Dispute

Palantir and London’s Mayoral Office for Policing and Crime have settled their legal dispute over a proposed £50 million Metropolitan Police contract, withdrawing allegations against each other and leaving Palantir eligible to bid in a renewed procurement process. In a joint statement, the Mayoral Office for Policing and Crime, known as MOPAC, said its decision not to approve the proposed contract was not based on Palantir’s values or ethics, or wider reporting about the company. MOPAC acknowledged that an earlier statement by the mayor’s spokesperson could have created the impression that those considerations influenced the decision. The statement also said MOPAC has no policy against contracting with Palantir and that the company is welcome to compete. All potential providers are to be treated fairly, transparently and without discrimination, in accordance with procurement rules. The settlement does not award Palantir the contract, and MOPAC is not bound to select it. The proposed two-year deal would have provided artificial intelligence technology to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations.