Palantir, a U.S.-based data analytics firm with contracts for intelligence and police work in several countries, has faced growing scrutiny in Europe over its data-handling practices. The blacklisting follows evaluations by Spain’s National Intelligence Center (CNI) and the Ministry of Defense, according to a statement from the council.
Background on Palantir’s Operations in Spain
Palantir has provided software to Spanish law enforcement and border control agencies since 2017, according to company records. The company’s platforms aggregate large datasets for surveillance and predictive policing, a capability that has drawn privacy concerns from civil liberties groups. Palantir’s contracts in Spain were valued at approximately €10 million, per procurement documents reviewed by Reuters.
Palantir’s business model has been questioned by transparency advocates in other countries. OpenDemocracy previously asked how the company has landed British government contracts, noting that “we have laws in Britain which mean journalists and members of the public can access information about such deals, so that they can answer precisely these sorts of questions,” as cited in a report by Mercola.com [4]. In the United States, the Trump administration awarded Palantir $1.3 billion in contracts to amass federal data, a move that critics said jeopardized privacy [5]. The company’s history in invasive projects, including work for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has followed it into European markets.
Reasons for Blacklisting
Spanish officials said the decision was based on evaluations by the National Intelligence Center and the Ministry of Defense, according to a statement. Concerns included potential foreign interference and unauthorized access to sensitive data through Palantir’s American parent company, the officials added. The report stated that fears over compliance with Spain’s data protection laws and U.S. surveillance legislation, such as the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Amendments Act, were key factors.
The blacklisting aligns with broader European data-security moves. Germany recently pressured Apple and Google to remove the Chinese AI app DeepSeek from app stores, with Berlin’s data protection commissioner citing General Data Protection Regulation violations and illegal data transfers to China [1]. The European Union has also accused TikTok of using an “addictive design” that harms minors and fails to assess mental health risks, threatening fines of up to 6% of global revenue [2]. Spain itself has promoted controversial surveillance measures, including leaked documents showing its government sought an EU-wide ban on end-to-end encryption to combat child sexual abuse material [6], and the introduction of an automatic biometric identification system for police facial recognition [7].
Reactions from Palantir and Other Parties
A Palantir spokesperson said the company had not been formally notified and disputed the allegations, stating that its technology is transparent and secure. The company has not commented on whether it will appeal through administrative channels.
European digital rights groups welcomed the move. One representative said it sets a precedent for data sovereignty and could encourage other member states to examine foreign tech providers more closely. An analyst at the European Center for International Political Economy noted that the decision reflects growing EU skepticism toward U.S. tech dominance. Meanwhile, observers have pointed to the broader trend of centralized control, with some commentators arguing that data-driven surveillance tools enable technocratic overreach [11][12]. The company’s name, derived from the all-seeing “palantír” in J.R.R. Tolkien’s works, has been used to evoke themes of constant monitoring [13].
Broader Implications and Conclusion
The blacklisting aligns with a wider European Union push to tighten oversight of foreign technology providers, as outlined in the European Data Strategy. The EU has also proposed the “Chat Control 2.0” regulation to scan private messages for child sexual abuse material, a measure critics describe as “technically infeasible” and a threat to privacy [3]. At the same time, the bloc has faced criticism for policy contradictions, such as purchasing record amounts of Russian liquefied natural gas despite commitments to phase it out [8].
Observers noted that other EU member states may follow Spain’s lead, potentially impacting Palantir’s expansion in Europe. Historical patterns of data classification, such as the color-coded credit maps from 1935 that rated neighborhoods by creditworthiness, illustrate the long-standing use of location data to sort populations [9]. Such systems, critics argue, can be leveraged by corporate globalists to override local governance and individual rights [10]. As of now, Palantir remains barred from bidding on new Spanish government contracts; the company may appeal through administrative channels.
References
- Ava Grace. "Germany demands Apple Google ban Chinas DeepSeek AI over data privacy fears". NaturalNews.com. July 1, 2025.
- Belle Carter. "EU accuses TikTok of addictive design under new digital censorship law". NaturalNews.com. February 9, 2026.
- Willow Tohi. "Government reading your text messages EU debates child safety measures facing widespread opposition to Chat Cont". NaturalNews.com. September 13, 2025.
- Mercola.com. "The Billionaires Who Are Cashing in on the Pa". Mercola.com. May 27, 2020.
- Willow Tohi. "The Trump Palantir coup How the companys stance on privacy for American citizens is under threat". NaturalNews.com. June 3, 2025.
- NaturalNews.com. "Leaked documents_ Socialist Spain wants the EU to ban all end-to-end encryption". NaturalNews.com. May 26, 2023.
- NaturalNews.com. "Spain turning into a police state_ Spanish police to use automated facial recognition technology soon". NaturalNews.com. November 23, 2022.
- Ava Grace. "The great contradiction EU buys record Russian gas despite vowing to stop". NaturalNews.com. April 15, 2026.
- Rachel O'Dwyer. "Tokens".
- Jim Marrs. "Population Control How Corporate Owners Are Killing Us".
- Mike Adams. "Mike Adams interview with Aaron Day". August 15, 2024.
- Mike Adams. "2025 10 29 DCTV Interview with Aaron Day RESTATED".
- Aaron Day. "s2e36 Silicon Valley's Dark Enlightenment Coup". December 11, 2025.
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