Spain is the third European country in just over a month to ban its agencies from working with the US military tech giant
The Spanish government is ordering state-backed companies to cut their ties with US defense contractor Palantir, Spain’s El Confidencial newspaper has reported. The move follows similar bans in France and Germany.
Sources within several public firms told the newspaper that they have been instructed not to sign any new contracts with Palantir over fears that classified national security information could fall into the company’s hands.
The ban affects state businesses operating in the communications, defense, military technology, and public infrastructure sectors, El Confidencial reported. The Spanish military, however, has reportedly been given an exemption. In 2023, the Spanish Defense Ministry’s Armed Forces Intelligence Center (CIFAS) signed a €16.5 million ($18.8 million) deal with Palantir, which expires next November.
Two parties in Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’ coalition, Sumar and Junts, have demanded that the government explain the defense ministry’s remaining contract with Palantir. In an official response on Thursday, the government said that Palantir does “not have access to data on Spanish citizens.”
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