As Palantir's Role in Government Grows, So Does the Need for Real Human Rights Due Diligence
Source: NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, 2025

The NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights published a critical assessment of data analytics firm Palantir's responsibilities regarding government contracts under the Trump administration.

Key Concerns

The article highlights tension between Palantir's stated positions. While the company claims it "act[s] as a data processor, not a data controller," its Human Rights Policy commits to UN standards requiring companies to assess impacts on fundamental rights including privacy, due process, and freedom of movement.

Four Required Actions

The publication recommends Palantir should:

1. Conduct Human Rights Impact Assessments before and during government partnerships, evaluating risks to privacy, due process, non-discrimination, and freedom of movement across specific contracts and use cases.

2. Establish Contractual Safeguards defining permissible technology uses aligned with international standards, including termination clauses for misuse.

3. Monitor and Audit Downstream Use through internal audits, independent oversight, or external partnerships, with technical constraints built in to prevent prohibited applications like racial profiling.

4. Provide Meaningful Transparency by publicly disclosing high-risk contracts, assessments, and mitigation measures while respecting legitimate security constraints.

Context

The analysis notes the Trump administration has allegedly disregarded privacy protections and due process safeguards, making robust corporate oversight increasingly urgent. Palantir's dual positioning — claiming to be merely a data processor while simultaneously committing to human rights standards — creates a fundamental accountability gap that must be resolved through concrete action rather than policy statements alone.
