Kosiniak-Kamysz responds to criticism regarding cooperation with Palatir: Lobbying is huge

The head of the Ministry of National Defense was asked on Friday about doubts related to the ministry's cooperation with the American company Palantir Technologies specializing in the analysis of large data sets.

Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that the company's software is used, among others, by NATO headquarters, Ukraine and "most armies that today have the opportunity to use any artificial intelligence system."

I understand that lobbying is huge. That those who once protested or were involved in climate issues are now involved in artificial intelligence issues. Maybe these are their tasks, said the Minister of Defense.

He added that talks with Palantir have been conducted for many months. This is nothing new. I signed a cooperation agreement with Palantir. And on the basis of this agreement, talks and negotiations are being conducted at the Cyberspace Defense Forces Component Command. All this is the subject of military analysis and I am waiting for its conclusion, emphasized the head of the Ministry of National Defense.

On Thursday, MPs Franciszek Sterczewski (KO), Daria Gosek-Popiołek (Left) and Maciej Konieczny (Together) raised doubts at a joint press conference with activists about the security of the Polish army's data, to which Palantir would gain access.

The initiators of the "Our Data" campaign announced a protest in Warsaw over the weekend. They demand that the signing of the contract between Palantir and the Ministry of Defense be suspended until a reliable and open audit is conducted.

The cooperation between the Ministry of National Defense and Palantir Technologies began in December 2024 with the signing of a memorandum. In October a year ago, the head of the Ministry of National Defense signed a letter of intent with Palantir regarding cooperation in the areas of artificial intelligence, information technology and cybersecurity. Kosiniak-Kamysz announced then that the contract with the company was to be signed in the coming months.

According to information revealed by TVN24 at the end of September, the 2024 memorandum provided for practical testing of technical solutions, information exchange, training and exercises. In turn, the letter of intent from 2025 states that Palantir has prepared its own Maven Smart System Poland (MSS-P) software and that both parties are willing to explore the possibilities of its implementation.

In turn, in October we reported on RMF FM that in December, in addition to the memorandum, a confidentiality agreement was also signed, in which both parties declared that they "want and express their readiness to mutually disclose and receive confidential information in order to exchange information necessary for cooperation in the area of ​​cybersecurity as part of bilateral activities related to information technologies, including technology testing, training and exercises."

Palantir has been controversial in the past, primarily because the company works closely with intelligence agencies and security structures. Critics point to the risk of privacy violations, lack of transparency and the possibility of profiling people based on their digital activity.

The use of Palantir's technology by Israel conducting military operations in the Gaza Strip is also controversial.