Gotham, a surveillance software engineered by the United States-based firm Palantir, is marketed as a panacea for data aggregation. This formidable tool synthesizes vast volumes of data within mere seconds, allowing law enforcement officers to access a plethora of information: names, ages, addresses, fines, and even criminal records. A combination of mobile device data and social media analytics enables the creation of detailed profiles that can appear almost instantaneously.
Utilizing artificial intelligence, this surveillance solution appears to fulfill the long-held aspirations of police and intelligence agencies for efficient data management. As it currently stands, three German federal states—Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia—have already integrated Gotham into their operations, with Baden-Württemberg poised to follow suit shortly.
However, this technological advancement is not without significant drawbacks, as privacy advocates and civil rights organizations have raised alarm bells. Critics contend that the software does not merely entrap suspected culprits but ensnares innocent individuals as well.
Voices of Dissent: Concerns from Civil Rights Groups
The Society for Civil Rights (GFF), a prominent non-profit organization in Germany, has voiced staunch opposition to the deployment of Palantir’s programs. In response, the GFF has initiated a constitutional complaint contesting the extensive data analytics currently operational in Bavaria.
Franziska Görlitz, a lawyer for GFF, highlighted the potential for wrongful scrutiny: “Individuals who report crimes, are victims themselves, or those merely unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time could attract unwarranted police attention via this software.” The organization contends that such indiscriminate data analysis violates fundamental rights enshrined in the German constitution, notably the right to informational self-determination and the confidentiality of telecommunications.
Compounding these issues, many individuals who find themselves on law enforcement’s radar through this so-called data mining remain oblivious. Current legal frameworks in Bavaria permit police to utilize the Palantir software even in the absence of any discernible threat, thereby flouting safeguards established in neighboring Hesse following a victorious constitutional complaint in 2023. The Federal Constitutional Court is yet to render a decision on a similar challenge from North Rhine-Westphalia.
Critique from the Chaos Computer Club
The Chaos Computer Club, an organization of technology experts and hackers, has also condemned the opaque nature of software like Palantir. Spokesperson Constanze Kurz characterized the scenario as a “Palantir dragnet investigation,” arguing that police are amalgamating disparate data sets for purposes that diverge from their original intent. “This raises sufficient cause to regard automated mass analysis as a peril that ought not to become routine for law enforcement,” Kurz cautioned. She emphasized that the compilation of data could lead to long-term dependency on Palantir’s nebulous software.
Palantir, owned by billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel, provided its software to Bavaria in 2024, with its use in Hesse tracing back to 2017. Known for his controversial political affiliations and connections to former President Donald Trump, Thiel’s company has long collaborated with U.S. military and intelligence agencies.
In Germany, Palantir’s software is known by various monikers, including HessenData and VeRA, the latter standing for the “Overlapping Systems Research and Analysis Platform.” As reported by outlets like Süddeutsche Zeitung and public broadcasters NDR and WDR, police had reportedly leveraged VeRA in approximately 100 cases by May 2025.
One notable instance was the attack on the Israeli consulate in Munich in September 2024, where Deputy Chairman of the Police Union, Alexander Poitz, remarked that automated data analysis facilitated the tracing of perpetrators’ movements, enabling a prompt and effective police response.
Digital Policy: An Ongoing Struggle for Sovereignty
The governance and application of foreign technologies like Palantir starkly contrast with Germany’s stated aspirations for digital sovereignty. In its coalition agreement, the newly formed government—comprising the Christian Democratic Union (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD)—proclaims, “Digital policy is power politics.” Their objectives include reducing reliance on foreign technology, advancing essential technologies, and securing digital infrastructures.
Despite these ambitious goals, Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) appears ambivalent, leaving open the possibility of procuring Palantir software for the Federal Criminal Police and Federal Police. This stance diverges from that of his predecessor, Nancy Faeser (SPD), who rebuffed such technological adoptions in 2023.
The GFF’s constitutional complaint against Palantir’s usage has garnered significant public backing. An online petition on the platform Campact—calling for a halt to the software’s deployment—has attracted over 264,000 signatures within a week, demonstrating a substantial reservoir of public concern regarding the implications of such technologies.
Germany stands at a crossroads, grappling with the conflicting demands of security and privacy in the digital age. The efficacy and ethics of software like Gotham remain fraught with complexity, compelling ongoing debate and reflection among policymakers and the public alike.
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