Palantir in focus: Bavaria's police use controversial software!

Palantir in focus: Bavaria's police use controversial software!

In the past few weeks, the discussion about the use of the analysis software of the US company Palantir has been cooked again in Germany. After all, the software is used to effectively evaluate data and increase public security. The Bavarian police already come to various offenses, including property and asset crimes, to the use of the software, which it calls "Vera"- a so-called cross-procedural research and analysis system. As The shareholder was used between September 2024 and May 2025 almost 100 times.

Not all federal states see the use of the software so positively. In a latest survey, several federal states expressed concerns. Data protection and efficiency are the big topics that are discussed here. The Interior Ministers' Conference has already advised against a nationwide use of the software, since the controversy and concerns grow in public. Data protection officers and politicians warn of surveillance and possible dependence on US technologies, while the police rely on the efficiency of this solution.

The question of digital sovereignty

As part of the European Police Congress 2025, the topic of "digital sovereignty" was particularly highlighted. Experts like Dr. Stefan Mager and Christian Kuß emphasized how important it is for the police to have control over their data infrastructure and software solutions. According to a survey during the event, 60% of the participants believe that digital sovereignty is existential for their authorities. The dependence on US platform providers is considered problematic, especially in times of geopolitical uncertainties, because the US Cloud Act leaves the possibility that US authorities have access to data, even if they are stored in Europe. of the authorities SPIEGEL emphasizes how initiatives such as Gaia-X should help build up a more resilient European infrastructure.

With over 25% of those surveyed who rate their own IT infrastructure as "hardly sovereign", the urgency of the topic becomes evident. Palantir has currently established itself as a standard service in several federal states, but the search for European alternatives is unsuccessful. This not only arouses concerns about data security, but also causes the question of how strong Germany and other European countries depend on these US providers.

the future or a risk?

Despite the controversy, the stock market shows growing recognition of the company Palantir. The analysis specialist's share increases and is perceived as tempting by investors. This development takes place in parallel with the growing concerns about possible surveillance and lack of control over your own data. Finally, reports have the fact that Palantir employees worked directly in German police stations with access to real and test systems that further fuel concerns.

The Situation around Palantir illustrates the challenges that the German police faced. The balance between the need to work effectively and the protection of bourgeois freedom is fragile. It remains to be seen what the future design of digital sovereignty looks like in Germany. There are many challenges and opportunities ahead of us, and the discussion about Palantir will certainly not end so quickly.