Tech giant Palantir secured a ten-year, $10 billion contact with the U.S. Army to manage its databases and aid in integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its systems, the branch announced Thursday.
The deal, which rolls 75 other contracts into one, charges Palantir with streamlining the service branch’s databases, according to the Army’s announcement. The tech giant was founded by entrepreneur Peter Thiel on the heels of the September 11 attacks, and the firm has made multiple moves to cooperate with the Trump administration on initiatives including tracking illegal migrants for arrests in real time.
“This Enterprise Agreement represents a pivotal step in the Army’s commitment to modernizing our capabilities while being fiscally responsible,” Leo Garciga, the Army’s Chief Information Officer, said in the announcement. “By streamlining our procurement processes and leveraging enterprise-level discounts, we are not only enhancing our operational effectiveness but also maximizing our buying power.” (RELATED: Army Hits Recruiting Target Way Ahead Of Schedule)
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and Founders Fund, gestures as he speaks during the Bitcoin 2022 Conference at Miami Beach Convention Center on April 7, 2022 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Marco Bello/Getty Images)
Palantir is the subject of critiques on both sides of the political aisle due to its reported sweeping data collection on millions of Americans. However, Palantir denied that the company was conducting unwarranted surveillance on U.S. citizens.
“To be very clear: Palantir is not building a master database, and Palantir is neither conducting nor enabling mass surveillance of American citizens,” the company said in response to concerns over their alleged data collection.
The company’s secretive reputation comes in part from its extensive, often behind-the-scenes work in areas such as national security and crime management.
Left-wing activists have slammed the company’s work in aiding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, a partnership which stretches back to 2011 under former President Barack Obama, according to contract award data. Palantir has worked with the Pentagon in the past, partnering with the U.S. Navy as far back as 2007, according to contract data. The company has also worked with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and the U.S. Air Force.
“The Army remains committed to rigorously assessing contract requirements and driving robust competition, ensuring that innovative solutions and exceptional value are consistently delivered for both the government and the American taxpayer,” the announcement concluded.
The Army and Palantir did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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