German police expands use of Palantir surveillance software - DW

Palantir Technologies' controversial surveillance software Gotham is expanding across German federal states, sparking legal challenges and privacy concerns over mass data analysis capabilities.

The AI-powered Gotham system rapidly compiles comprehensive profiles by combining police records, phone data, and social media content within seconds. Currently operational in Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia, the software owned by billionaire Peter Thiel has processed around 100 cases, including the Munich Israeli consulate attack. Privacy advocates argue the technology violates constitutional rights by surveilling innocent citizens alongside suspects.

• Privacy organizations have filed constitutional complaints challenging the software's unlimited data analysis capabilities
• Critics warn of dangerous dependency on foreign surveillance technology that operates through deliberately opaque systems
• Public opposition is strong, with over 264,000 Germans signing petitions against the software's continued use
• The technology contradicts Germany's stated goals for digital sovereignty and reducing reliance on foreign tech companies