Over the weekend, a founder of the startup accelerator Y Combinator delivered sharp criticism of the controversial data analytics company Palantir. This critique prompted a Palantir executive to issue a comprehensive defense of the company’s operations.
The exchange followed revelations from federal filings indicating that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), responsible for implementing the Trump administration’s vigorous deportation policies, is compensating Palantir with $30 million to develop the Immigration Lifecycle Operating System, or ImmigrationOS. This system is designed to assist ICE in determining deportation targets and offers “near real-time visibility” into self-deportations.
Y Combinator founder Paul Graham commented on Palantir’s contract on social media platform X, stating that it’s a thrilling time in the technology sector and urged top-tier programmers to consider alternatives to working at a company constructing the “infrastructure of the police state.”
In rebuttal, Ted Mabrey, Palantir’s global head of commercial, expressed anticipation for future applicants who might choose Palantir after reading Graham’s post. Mabrey refrained from elaborating on Palantir’s current ICE collaborations but mentioned that the company initially began working with the Department of Homeland Security — under which ICE functions — in response to the murder of Agent Jaime Zapata by the Zetas in what was known as Operation Fallen Hero.
Mabrey conveyed that when lives are saved due to their technology, while some perish because it hasn’t yet improved sufficiently, it alters one’s perspective on the value of their work. He drew parallels between Graham’s critique and past protests over Google’s involvement in Project Maven, which led Google to cease its military contract for drone image analysis, although the company has since shown renewed interest in defense work.
Furthermore, Mabrey encouraged potential Palantir employees to read CEO Alexander Karp’s book “The Technological Republic.” The book argues that the software industry must reestablish its partnership with the government. Palantir has been actively recruiting on college campuses, emphasizing a pivotal moment for the West.
Mabrey stressed that Palantir seeks individuals who have belief not in homogeneous principles but in the ability to believe in causes greater than themselves. He highlighted that such belief is crucial due to the challenging nature of their work and the constant scrutiny from all political directions.
Graham later urged Mabrey to make a public promise on Palantir’s behalf that they would not develop technologies that aid government infringement of the U.S. Constitution, although he admitted that such a vow would lack legal enforceability. He hoped that this commitment might empower a Palantir employee to refuse any future illegal directives.
Mabrey compared Graham’s request to a rhetorical courtroom trick but insisted that Palantir has consistently assured their adherence to ethical practices, emphasizing their commitment to the dedicated employees who believe they are making the world a better place through their work.
