UK government to extend controversial Palantir NHS contract as it draws up plan for British alternative – UK politics live

A controversial £330 million contract with a US tech firm to deliver the government’s flagship AI system for the NHS is set to be extended, despite growing calls from lawmakers and campaigners for its cancellation. While ministers plan to eventually replace the platform with a British alternative, critics argue the system’s benefits remain unproven, with many NHS trusts refusing to adopt it. Separately, concerns over privacy and consent have escalated as reports emerge of women discovering unauthorised recordings of themselves, captured by smart glasses worn by others in public spaces. Authorities are now examining restrictions on the use of such wearable technology in sensitive settings like healthcare and education.

Health secretary Yvette Cooper has faced calls to axe US tech firm’s contract to deliver the flagship government AI system, report saysPalantir’s controversial £330m health contract is to be extended before ministers draw up plans to replace it with a British alternative, the FT has reported.Health secretary Yvette Cooper has faced calls from MPs and campaigners to axe the US tech firm’s contract to deliver the flagship government AI system.The reports today that Labour is to keep Palantir in the NHS shows that the huge sums of money paid to the likes of former Labour ministers, Peter Mandelson and Tom Watson, looks to have paid off.Any evidence of patient benefit is highly contested by NHS staff and many NHS trusts have rejected the use of Palantir’s platform.The benefits of smart glasses must be weighed against the harms they can cause. The government is already looking into options to restrict smart glasses in certain settings and restricting the sale to certain users.Other settings, such as healthcare and education, have existing safeguarding or professional policies that are relevant to smart glasses and any kind of digital recording. NHS England and the Department for Education are currently looking into wearable technology in certain settings as well.Women are reporting waking up after nights out to find videos of themselves have gone viral online, filmed without their knowledge or consent by men wearing smart glasses.To me, these devices not only have the potential to erode safety and privacy in public spaces, but raise really important questions about consent. Continue reading...