London Police Union Weighs Legal Action Over Palantir AI Surveillance

Met Police Deploys Palantir AI to Monitor Officers

The Metropolitan Police Federation, the union representing more than 30,000 frontline officers in London, is weighing legal action against the Met after the force deployed a Palantir-built artificial intelligence tool to monitor and flag potential misconduct within its ranks. The union has labelled the move an 'outrageous and unforgivable invasion of privacy.'

Hundreds Flagged, Three Arrested

The Met's Professionalism Directorate used the Palantir software to analyse internal data, examining patterns in sickness records, overtime, shift rostering, and attendance. The sweep led to three arrests for offences including abuse of authority for sexual purposes, fraud, sexual assault, and misconduct in public office. Two more officers were served with notices of investigation for gross misconduct and suspended.

Beyond the criminal cases, 98 officers are being assessed for misconduct linked to abuse of the IT shift-rostering system, with around 500 more receiving prevention notices. Forty-two senior officers between Chief Inspector and Chief Superintendent rank are under assessment for serious non-compliance with attendance rules, and twelve officers are being investigated for failing to disclose Freemason membership.

Federation Raises Privacy Concerns

The Federation said it had not been informed that the force's planned upgrade to its Lawful Business Monitoring software would include Palantir's AI capabilities. General Secretary Matt Cane warned the system's continuous 24/7 geo-location tracking risks monitoring officers off duty, on rest days, and at home. He said the use of AI to 'spy' on officers was 'not proportionate, just or proper' and accused leadership of acting like 'Big Brother Bosses.'

The Federation urged members to be cautious about carrying Met-issued devices off duty and flagged concerns over GDPR compliance and Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, which protects the right to a private life.

Wider Scrutiny of Palantir

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the programme, saying the force was using technology and stronger legal powers to confront poor behaviour and raise standards. The controversy arrives amid broader scrutiny of Palantir's expanding government role. In the US, American Oversight filed a lawsuit in April seeking records on how federal agencies use Palantir tools. The UK holds more than 500 million pounds in Palantir contracts across police, defence, and the NHS, and over 200,000 people have signed petitions urging the government to sever those ties.