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Did Palantir’s founders consider the ethical implications of their work?

blog.joelonsdale.com · 2,714 words · saved by 1 readers

Hundreds from the US and allied armed services have thanked me in person for Palantir’s system — for reasons such as saving lives against IED’s and other threats, or helping them root out terrorists before they could strike again – and received thanks in return for their service. Others have interrupted talks and protested, or in rare cases even threatened my other activities. What’s the story? I’m a proud founder of Palantir — the company wouldn’t exist if it weren’t for me, something which is also true for at least a handful of other people. But I haven’t been in charge of the company for about a decade and no longer speak for the company’s board or leaders [although I remain a shareholder / advisor]. In the fantasy realm of Tolkien, the palantir seeing stones were made thousands of years ago by the elves of Valinor in the Uttermost West, and gifted to their friends around the world. These stones could communicate to help see the past and understand the future, and were used to secur

This post originated with a question on Quora: Yes, we thought a lot about the ethical implications. Palantir was created to protect the realm — with a warning built into its name. Hundreds from the US and allied armed services have thanked me in person for Palantir’s system — for reasons such as saving lives against IED’s and other threats, or helping them root out terrorists before they could strike again – and received thanks in return for their service. Others have interrupted talks and protested, or in rare cases even threatened my other activities. What’s the story? I’m a proud…

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