The Trump administration has significantly expanded its partnership with Palantir Technologies Inc (NYSE:PLTR) to create a database compiling sensitive personal information on millions of Americans, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report.
In March, Trump signed an executive order calling for the federal government to share data across agencies, raising concerns that this will be used for authoritarian surveillance practices.
Palantir is reportedly building a data platform leveraging its Gotham and Foundry software to integrate and analyze records from key government agencies. The platform is designed to track behavioral patterns in real-time, flag potential threats, and streamline data such as tax records, immigration movements, medical claims, and financial information.
The company is also in talks to purchase the technology of the Social Security Administration and the Internal Revenue Service, the WSJ reported, citing government officials and Palantir employees with knowledge of the matter.
The selection of Palantir as chief vendor for this project was driven by the Department of Government Efficiency under the leadership of Elon Musk, government officials told the WSJ.
Palantir has received more than $113 million in federal funding since Trump took office across existing and new contracts, public records show. This does not include a $785 million contract awarded by the Department of Defense last week.
Former Palantir employees and privacy advocates have expressed concern that the company is normalizing authoritarianism and enabling dangerous expansions of executive power.
This month, 13 former Palantir employees signed a letter urging the company to cut ties with the Trump administration.
“Data that is collected for one reason should not be repurposed for other uses,” former Palantir engineer Linda Xia told the WSJ. “Combining all that data, even with the noblest of intentions, significantly increases the risk of misuse.”
When asked about its work with the Trump administration, Palantir declined to comment.
Shares of Palantir traded down 2.1% at about $129 on Monday morning.