Dispute over Palantir software: Does Saxony-Anhalt threaten a data protection scandal?

Dispute over Palantir software: Does Saxony-Anhalt threaten a data protection scandal?

in Saxony-Anhalt is bubbling hard! The dispute over the introduction of the Palantir-software causes the police for heated discussions. The software that is intended to bring together different data sources of the authorities and enable analyzes is strongly criticized by the opposition, especially by the left. It warns of possible data protection problems and massive interventions in the privacy of citizens. The CDU Interior Minister apparently plans the controversial introduction and sees the software a solution for the challenges in the security area.

The planned law that is intended to use the use of the software is classified as unlawful by experts. Jonas Botta , an expert, emphasizes that the law is constitutionally questionable. Particular attention attracts special attention that the regulation not only affects Saxony-Anhalt, but also potentially also affects many people outside of the federal state. The background to the legislative initiative is the requirements of the Federal Constitutional Court from 2023, which were created in terms of automated police data analyzes.

an outcry for security and data management

The need for such data analysis tools is inspired by the Magdeburg attack on the Christmas market in December 2024. After the incident, the state parliament has put the Christmas market on the test of the Christmas market security concept since January 22, 2025. This means that the state government continues to look for a legally secure data analysis platform, but without naming Palantir. Rather, she demands a centrally operated interim solution so that the police can work more efficiently.

Prime Minister Reiner Haseloff has already requested a rapid implementation, while the left has a parliamentary request for the "Bundes-Vera" software for federal authorities. This software was stopped in 2023 because it contradicted the goals of the P20 program, which deals with the modernization of the police infrastructure.

The use of Palantir in Germany

As from a report of the Tagesschau , Palantir is not only used in Germany, such as terrorist attacks, but has also access to a variety of Databases that you analyze. In Bavaria, for example, a slimmed -down version called "Vera" is used, which has been used for networking files since September 2024.

However, there are also concerns that this software was used almost a hundred times for less serious offenses in Bavaria, which shows the questionability of their use. The Bavarian data protection officer criticized the fact that this can be used to capture unsorted citizens in police analyzes. While a similar software called "Hessendata" is used up to 15,000 times a year in Hesse, due to a judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court in 2022, there are restrictions in use.

Litigation and data protection concerns

with the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court have returned the specifications for automated data analysis. The Court had emphasized several times that such analysis systems must meet strict constitutional requirements. The regulations are currently insufficient because it enables unlimited data processing and analysis, which leads to a massive interference with the right of personality of the citizens.

The discussion about the introduction of the Palantir software in Saxony-Anhalt shows how complex and sensitive the topic is. During the state government, the legal requirements are on the brink and many questions are still unanswered. There are doubts whether the solutions offered can really guarantee the required protection of civil rights.