Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether the Palantir system for managing his Department's data could be unilaterally shut down by Palantir without the Government’s consent.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has put in place extensive data security and protection measures to ensure that UK Defence information is appropriately managed. All UK Defence Data used and developed within Palantir software remains sovereign and under the full control of the MOD. Clear contractual controls are in place to ensure this, including controls over the underlying data systems on which Palantir software operates.

These contractual arrangements mean that Palantir cannot unilaterally shut down the MOD’s use of the system, or alter MOD access to its data, without the explicit consent of the MOD. Any such change would require our agreement.