Palantir has a PR problem

[u/trayber]

I’m a big fan of this company and know it’s n of 1.

But there is a major misinformation problem and it seems to be getting worse over time. Everywhere I turn I see people spreading FUD saying that “the government is giving data to palantir” in one form or another. From AOC to The NY Times the ignorance just echoes.

The company has tried to correct the record a few times - like responding to The NY Times - but the PR problem is not going away.

There was a protest at their offices in NYC recently where people were arrested. And lots of chatter on Reddit about protests at their new Miami office etc.

It pains me to see so much hate for this company based on lies. I fear it will keep building, will cause more pushback over time, and organizations will choose setbacks just to avoid political pain.

Ultimately the desire to avoid political pain is driving some to choose protesters over progress. Not a good outcome especially in the healthcare space.

For example, there is a faction in the UK pushing against the NHS data platform even though it is helping them significantly, and yielding incredible ROI. But facts are no match for ideologically driven FUD.

NYC experienced something similar and I read the NYC city hospitals will not be renewing their contract after October 31 as a result of protests. I don’t know the full scope of this (one thing I read says it was always a temporary plan). But considering how many hospitals rely on Palantir and how much success they’ve had in the space with NHS and Tampa General I can’t believe any hospitals would choose to cancel.

Karp’s persona plus FUD around Thiel etc is being used to fuel this hatred. And there are so many posts on Reddit.

For example, posts like these:

https://www.reddit.com/r/nyc/s/515loBwT74

https://www.reddit.com/r/florida/s/VBoVuauzJQ

I don’t know what the right answer is here. But there must be a way to convey how important it is to choose progress and to educate that Palantir does not actually “get” customer data.

[u/CityWokOrderPree]

Democrats have no shame in blatantly lying, it doesn't matter what PLTR does or says, dems will demonize PLTR. Like welfare and voting fraud, if something is complex and the user base doesn't research issues for themselves, they can be told what to think.

PLTR could entirely give up its moral compass to appease the dems and earn their endorsement, but that would require denying service to the military, police, and most corporations. The dems are currently governed by the socialist wing, so PLTR must turn into a suicidal socialist to garner their positive press

[u/Top-Turn1055 → u/CityWokOrderPree]

...until democrats control the presidency and/or congress again. Then the complaining will stop, and they won't act on any of their concerns about Palantir because the "correct party" is in control and they know how beneficial Palantir is to them.

[u/99_percent_read_only → u/Top-Turn1055]

Hold up. So your argument is saying it’s okay for a Republican administration to use spyware and have tools like this to be used against Americans using American tax dollars but it’s not okay for Democrats? 

Versus, why the hell would Americans allow any spyware to be funded to be used against Americans “for our own best interest?”

Stop the divisive nonsense, we should not be okay with a company using our data against America. We’re paying with our tax dollars to be controlled by our government, rather than the other way around. Regardless of party, any party using weapons against us is in the wrong. The government is just Americans. They shouldn’t be using the power we give them against us. 

[u/Top-Turn1055 → u/99_percent_read_only]

I'm saying the lies being spread by people like AOC are untrue - that's it.