London Mayor Sadiq Khan has blocked a £50m contract between Palantir and the Met Police. The deal was meant to automate investigations, but Khan cited a breach of procurement rules.

The Met Police had planned to hire Palantir to use AI to process intelligence in criminal investigations. However, Khan's office, which oversees large Scotland Yard contracts, found that the process for extending Palantir's role didn't allow bids from other suppliers.

Palantir's UK and Europe head, Louis Mosley, accused Khan of politicising procurement. Mosley said: "What Londoners value is not being mugged, not being raped by a serving police officer."

But Labour MP Stella Creasy was quick to respond, saying Mosley "should be ashamed of himself" for using the serious matter of sexual abuse by Met officers to attack Khan.

Khan has previously stated that Londoners only want to see public money paid to companies that "share the values of our city". Palantir has worked with the Israeli military and the Trump administration in its immigration crackdown.

The company's CEO, Alex Karp, was once challenged that "Palantir kills Palestinians" in Gaza, to which he responded: "Mostly terrorists, that's true."

The blocked contract has led to tensions within the Labour party. MPs Rosena Allin-Khan and Clive Lewis called it the "right call", while Business Secretary Peter Kyle said Palantir could do things "no one else does around the world at the moment".

Kyle, who has been lobbied by Palantir, called on Khan to explain his decision. The Met Police had initially appointed Palantir on a separate deal worth less than £500,000, which didn't require scrutiny from the mayor.

The body representing rank and file officers, the Metropolitan Police Federation, described the initial deal as a "big brother" system, criticising the "unchecked use of a controversial AI provider to spy on every single one of our colleagues".

Ministers are aware of the need for less reliance on foreign AI companies as the technology becomes increasingly applied in public services. Kyle said: "We need to have more British AI companies that can do those kinds of things, which is why I've taken equity stakes in British AI firms and British tech firms, so that we can scale them up much, much faster."

"What Londoners value is not being mugged, not being raped by a serving police officer and that's really what the focus here should be … If we are going to politicise procurement in that way then we are going to compromise public safety"

  • Louis Mosley

The blocked contract has significant implications for the Met Police's ability to automate investigations. Without the new technology, the force may have to cut officer numbers, affecting its ability to keep London safe.

  • The blocked contract was worth £50m
  • Palantir was to use AI to process intelligence in criminal investigations
  • The deal was blocked due to a breach of procurement rules
  • The Met Police may have to cut officer numbers without the new technology
  • Palantir has worked with the Israeli military and the Trump administration

The situation is still unfolding, and it's clear that the blocked contract has significant implications for the Met Police and the city of London. The debate surrounding Palantir's involvement in public services isn't over yet, and Khan's decision will likely impact the company's future.

The people of London will be watching closely to see how the Met Police will adapt to the changing landscape of public services and technology. The blocked contract may be a setback for Palantir, but it's also an opportunity for the company to re-evaluate its approach to working with public services.

The Met Police will have to find alternative solutions to automate investigations, and it's likely that other companies will be bidding for the contract. This outcome will have a significant impact on the future of public services and the role of technology in keeping cities safe.

In the end, the blocked contract is a reminder that public services and technology are intertwined, and that companies like Palantir must be held to high standards when working with public services. Londoners deserve nothing less, and it's up to companies like Palantir to prove that they can meet those standards. They won't be able to do this if they don't prioritise transparency and accountability in their dealings with public services. The Met Police and the city of London can't afford to compromise on these values, and they won't.