Minister advocates for adoption of Palantir in digital sphere
In a bid to reduce reliance on U.S. tech giants and strengthen European vendors, Germany's Digital Minister, Karsten Wildberger, has announced plans to invest in and promote European alternatives to Palantir software. This move comes as a response to concerns about sovereignty, data protection, and the need to defend against actors with differing political values who might threaten Germany.
Wildberger, a CDU politician, emphasizes the importance of using means that are compatible with the rule of law. He is open to using Palantir’s software, but also sees the need for Germany to foster European competitors that can provide similar functionalities for security authorities. These technologies, designed to automate suspect identification and crime prevention, are intended to protect democracy and the state against external threats.
The proposed investment in European tech providers reflects a broader strategic approach to technology sovereignty and democratic protection. While the government has not detailed a precise funding mechanism or timeline, the emphasis is on actively promoting and investing in European tech providers.
The call for action is not limited to Wildberger. The former Mediamarkt-Saturn CEO has also suggested investing in European companies that can offer similar solutions. Meanwhile, the police in Baden-Württemberg are planning to use the Palantir software soon, and Bavaria has set rules for its use.
However, the use of Palantir software has sparked a wide-ranging debate due to concerns about data protection. The Society for Civil Liberties has filed a lawsuit against its use, arguing that it violates the right to self-determination over one's own data and the secrecy of telecommunications.
Despite current tensions, Wildberger continues to support the transatlantic partnership. He remains open to the use of Palantir's analysis software by the police, but insists on a software that does not make Germany dependent on distant states.
Minister of Justice, Stefanie Hubig, has expressed the importance of using means that are compatible with the rule of law. However, no new facts about her position on the Palantir software were mentioned in this paragraph.
Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt of the CSU is considering nationwide use of the controversial analysis software. No new facts about his position or the positions of the CSU or the government were mentioned in this paragraph.
As Germany moves towards digital sovereignty, Wildberger believes that 75% of the cloud solutions used in Germany come from big American tech companies. By investing in European tech providers, he aims to take the initiative back into Germany's own hands, citing past outsourcing in defense, energy supply, industrial production, and digitalization.
- The ongoing debate regarding data protection policies in the community has led the Society for Civil Liberties to file a lawsuit against the use of Palantir software, claiming it violates the right to self-determination over one's own data and the secrecy of telecommunications.
- In an attempt to bolster European tech sovereignty and democratic protection, Minister Wildberger plans to promote technology policies that encourage investment in European alternatives to U.S. tech giants, such as Palantir, as a means to reduce Germany's reliance on foreign vendors in the realm of politics, general-news, crime-and-justice, and employment policy.
