Palantir and Sadiq Khan's Office Settle Legal Dispute Over £50m Met Police AI Contract

Unbiased summary

Palantir and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac) have withdrawn their legal claims against each other over a blocked £50m contract to supply AI technology to the Metropolitan Police. Mopac had blocked the deal in May 2024, citing a breach of procurement rules, while Palantir sued in June, alleging the decision was influenced by its values and ethics. A joint statement said Mopac's decision was not based on Palantir's values or ethics, and both sides recognised that media reporting could have created a contrary impression. Palantir, which hired former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson as a lobbyist, is now re-entering the bidding process for a renewed Met contract. Both parties will pay their own legal costs.

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Coverage by outlet

The Guardian left

Angle Frames the settlement as a win for Palantir and a defeat for Khan, while highlighting broader concerns about Palantir's controversial activities and its lobbying power.

Bias The Guardian emphasises Palantir's work for the Israeli military and Trump administration, and Khan's previous moral objections, while downplaying the legal basis for Mopac's procurement concerns. It omits Palantir's re-entry into the bidding process and Mopac's statement that the decision was not about values. The article also stresses Palantir's hiring of Tom Watson, implying undue influence, which goes beyond the factual settlement.

Palantir and Sadiq Khan drop legal battle over Met contract

The Independent centre-left

Angle Presents a largely neutral, factual account but mildly frames the resolution as a routine legal outcome, with a focus on Khan's positive statements about London's tech sector.

Bias The Independent sticks closely to the facts but omits Palantir's original claim that the block was politically motivated, and does not mention the joint statement's clarification about media reporting. It highlights Khan's quote praising Palantir's contribution, which subtly shifts focus away from the ethical dispute. Overall, it remains relatively balanced, though it downplays Palantir's grievances.

London Mayor’s office resolves legal dispute with AI giant Palantir over £50m contract

City AM centre-right

Angle Frames the settlement as a climbdown by Khan and a vindication for Palantir, emphasising the company's concerns about unlawful bias and reputational damage.

Bias City AM uses loaded terms like 'climbdown' and 'welcomed back', and highlights Palantir's fears of discrimination in future contracts, which goes beyond the joint statement. It downplays Mopac's procurement concerns and omits Khan's earlier moral objections to Palantir. The article also emphasises Tom Watson's role in the settlement, framing it as a successful lobbying effort, which is not a neutral fact.

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GB News right

Angle Portrays the settlement as Sadiq Khan 'backing down' and conceding to Palantir, using combative language and focusing on Khan's alleged weakness.

Bias GB News uses the phrase 'backs down' in the headline and 'Lord Khan' (an incorrect title) to mock the mayor, while emphasising Palantir's accusations that Khan left police 'fighting criminals with their hands tied behind their back'. It omits the joint statement's clarification that Mopac's decision was not about values, and downplays Mopac's procurement rationale. The article also frames the settlement as a victory for Palantir, omitting that both sides withdrew claims and paid their own costs.

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