Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR) has called on U.S. lawmakers to adopt a cohesive, nationwide data privacy and security framework, warning that the current patchwork of regulations could jeopardize civil liberties and complicate future oversight of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.
In a formal response submitted in April to the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Privacy Working Group, the software company proposed detailed recommendations aimed at balancing consumer protection with the need for innovation. The filing included guidance on terminology, data rights, and enforcement protocols intended to uphold individual privacy while allowing businesses to comply effectively.
A key focus of Palantir’s proposal is the right of all Americans to access and delete their personal data, regardless of the entity managing it. The company underscored deletion as “a critical remedy for privacy violations,” stressing that any organization handling highly sensitive information should be held to at least that standard.
Palantir also cautioned against imprecise definitions—such as what qualifies as “personal” or “sensitive” data—which it argued could hinder both regulatory action and compliance strategies, especially concerning de-identification processes. The company emphasized that organizations must offer clear, specific explanations for their data collection practices, rejecting vague justifications like “general marketing” as inadequate for informed consent.
To make the law practical, Palantir advocated for a tiered compliance approach that considers the scale and risk exposure of different businesses. It rejected the notion that protecting consumers and enabling commercial innovation are mutually exclusive goals, asserting that modern technology allows for both.
The company linked its position on privacy directly to the broader discussion around artificial intelligence governance, suggesting that strong, transparent data rules now will lay the groundwork for meaningful oversight of AI systems in the future. Palantir highlighted its own tools as capable of supporting privacy-conscious compliance across diverse legal environments, pointing to the Fair Information Practice Principles as a model foundation.
The submission comes amid rising public scrutiny of Palantir’s federal contracts, following a New York Times report in May alleging the firm’s involvement in efforts to centralize U.S. government data on individuals. Palantir firmly denied the claims, stating, “Palantir is not a vendor for any centralized citizen database… such an initiative would run counter to the company’s core principles.”