Palantir’s “Manifesto” in the Spotlight: Technofascism or a Frank Admission?
The US-based data analytics firm Palantir Technologies has posted a 22-point manifesto signed by its CEO, Alex Karp. Derived from Karp’s book, The Technological Republic, the manifesto contains controversial demands regarding national security, war, and technology policies. Published on the X platform and quickly reaching a massive audience, the post has sparked a new debate in the international public sphere.
In the manifesto, the active participation of software companies in national defense strategies is defined as a “moral’’ duty. It puts forward political goals unexpected from tech firms, such as the introduction of national service and the embrace of religion in public life. The text also advocates for the rearmament of Germany and Japan. The hierarchical classification of world cultures based on their levels of development and functionality, labeling some as “regressive and harmful,” was another point that drew widespread backlash.
The manifesto was met with fierce international criticism as soon as it was published. Mark Coeckelbergh, a philosopher of technology at the University of Vienna, described the 22-point document as an “example of technofascism,” while former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis stated that Palantir had effectively signaled its readiness to pose an “AI-driven threat to humanity’s existence.” Entrepreneur and geopolitical commentator Arnaud Bertrand summarized the stance with these words: “They’re effectively saying our tools aren’t meant to serve your foreign policy. They’re meant to enforce ours.”
The publication of the manifesto at a critical time for the company was another notable point. Founded in 2003 with support from the CIA’s venture capital arm, Palantir today provides the infrastructure for many controversial operations, from the Trump administration’s immigration crackdowns to the targeting databases used by the Israeli military in Gaza. While anti-Palantir voices are rising in Germany, Ireland, and the European Parliament, the company’s £330 million contract with the UK’s National Health Service has also become the center of political debate. Meanwhile, Amnesty International accuses Palantir of having a track record of “flagrantly disregarding international law.”