Anti-ICE protesters should want more Palantir in government, CEO Karp says
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In this articlePalantir CEO Alex Karp said protesters demonstrating against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement should support the use of his company's tools in the government. "If you are critical of ICE, you should be out there protesting for more Palantir," he told CNBC's Morgan Brennan in an interview on Monday discussing the company's fourth-quarter results. "Our product actually, in its core, requires people to conform with Fourth Amendment data protections."Karp's comments come as anti-ICE protests continue in Minneapolis following the fatal shootings of two demonstrators. Documents released by the Department of Homeland Security last week also showed that the company is providing AI tools to the agency to help it sift through tips.Palantir has previously been criticized for its work with ICE and role in President Donald Trump's crackdown on immigration. Federal documents from April revealed that the company had a $30 million contract with the agency to provide "real-time visibility" on people self-deporting.The company's software is used by other government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, and, most notably, the Department of Defense. Karp argued in a letter to shareholders on Monday that its software system is "capable of preventing a terror attack" and could be "equally capable of preventing an unconstitutional intrusion into the private lives of citizens by the state."He argued that the best way to prevent such "intrusions" comes from developing a platform to "ensure that the state and its agents can see only what ought to be seen," which Palantir has created."The construction of such a platform, one that reflects our ethical commitments, should, of course, be a rallying cry for progressives and critical thinkers across the political spectrum who profess to be interested in advancing the values of the Fourth Amendment," he wrote.In the past, Karp has faced backlash for his vocal opinions, including his staunch support of Israel in the wake of the deadly Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, and the company's work with Israel's military. He told CNBC in March 2024 that some employees had left the company due to his pro-Israel views and he expects more to depart."From my perspective, it's not just about Israel," he told CNBC at the time. "It's like: Do you believe in the West? Do you believe the West has created a superior way of living?"Got a confidential news tip? We want to hear from you.Sign up for free newsletters and get more CNBC delivered to your inboxGet this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services.© 2026 Versant Media, LLC.
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