Spain has blacklisted U.S. data analytics firm Palantir from government contracts following security evaluations by the National Intelligence Center and the Ministry of Defense regarding sensitive data handling.

Key Points

• Spain’s National Intelligence Center and Ministry of Defense cited concerns over potential foreign interference and unauthorized access to sensitive data.
• Palantir has provided surveillance and predictive policing software to Spanish law enforcement and border control agencies since 2017.
• The blacklisted contracts were valued at approximately €10 million, according to procurement documents reviewed by Reuters.
• Officials expressed specific concerns regarding compliance with Spanish data protection laws and the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
• A Palantir spokesperson disputed the allegations, claiming the company’s technology is secure and that they have not received formal notification of the ban.

Why it Matters

This decision reflects growing European skepticism toward U.S. tech dominance and signals a stricter approach to data sovereignty within the European Union. The move could set a precedent for other member states to increase scrutiny of foreign technology providers, potentially impacting Palantir's future expansion across the continent.