[ad_1]
The NHS will investigate possible breaches of contract by US spy technology firm Palantir after it planned an influencer marketing campaign to muzzle criticism from activists.
Palantir did not seek prior approval from NHS England for a marketing campaign promoting a £330m contract to run a data platform for health services.
The deal initially drew heavy criticism from activists, who cited privacy concerns about sharing medical data with the secretive CIA-funded company.
Palantir hired PR agency Topham Guerin, which previously ran Conservative Party campaigns, and marketing agency Disrupt to reach out to influencers, according to leaked emails.
The brief outlined a campaign to “dispel misinformation related to recent data privacy concerns shared in the UK press”.
It also accused The Good Law Project of “spreading fear” after raising concerns about data protection.
Influencers were asked to specify how much they would pay for a video post and follow-up tweet to “raise awareness about Palantir’s contract with the NHS”.
Influencers were told they had to “maintain brand confidentiality and not tag Palantir.”
The Federated Data Platform contract was published just before Christmas.
Although largely redacted, the public relations and branding section states that Palantir will not use NHS England’s name or branding in any marketing without prior consent.
NHS England confirmed to Bloomberg on Saturday that it will now investigate whether Palantir breached the terms of its contract.
Joe Maugham, executive director of the Good Law Project, said: “Palantir is not, and frankly never has been, a company we can trust with this nationally important contract with the NHS.
“By its own behavior, it tells us exactly that.
“Within weeks, the company appears to have broken the terms of its contract by commissioning a covert smear campaign against prominent critics.
“If this government does not act to protect the national interest, the next government will have to.”
Palantir told Bloomberg there was no need to consult NHS England as the campaign was an “exploratory project”.
The Good Law Project agreed with Palantir, as campaign materials were dated November 28 and influencers were told they had a “tight deadline” to launch the campaign before the new year. It is accused of not having any intention of asking for the same.
[ad_2]
Source link
