4 ms·

As a UK taxpayer this makes me so angry. The fact this incredibly valuable (not to mention privacy sensitive) data is given away through backroom deals for a pi

As a UK taxpayer this makes me so angry. The fact this incredibly valuable (not to mention privacy sensitive) data is given away through backroom deals for a pittance without any transparency is just infuriating.

dekhn 6y ago
I live in the US and used to build products to deal with sensitive healthcare data. I recall talking to an Important Person from the NHS, years ago, who proudly told me that the NHS could do things with its healthcare data that US companies could not- without having to deal with things like HIPAA, etc. I told them that while they might be able to do that, it would probably make a bunch of people mad if they weren't totally transparent about it.
- loeg 6y ago
  HIPAA protects us less than most people think. As they say, the "P" in HIPAA is not for Privacy.
  - WrtCdEvrydy 6y ago
    Funny thing, ask enough people and you'll realize most don't realize it stands for Portability.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
throwawaypal 6y ago
If things like this upset you, you are seriously naive about the operations of your government. As a former Palantir employee, I can say with some confidence that the govt and private company's make efforts to ensure these things remain secret..
- badrabbit 6y ago
  It helps them sell the deal. Like a secret weapon,as opposed to a liability.
- davedx 6y ago
  You shouldn’t be less upset or angry just because you understand how the world works. Cynicism is self-defeating. Never resign yourself to this crap
- Taek 6y ago
  Echoing another commenter, it's absolutely okay to be upset about things that run-of-the mill. If we didn't get upset about everyday human rights violations, we'd still have slaves.
  - hackissimo123 6y ago
    And if we didn't get upset about everyday human rights violations, China wouldn't currently be herding people into concentration camps. Wait...
    - mtnGoat 6y ago
      touche!
- 616c 6y ago
  Then be a hero and stop using a throwaway maybe? If you are embarrassed or maybe ashamed of your former association with Palantir, don't bring it up or don't get caught working there or both. I work on similar public healthcare projects where our website mentions the contracts, down to the division. I tell people in meetings I don't do things I wouldn't stand by on public record. Own it.
  - Cthulhu_ 6y ago
    I wouldn't to be honest; they are a whistleblower and unless they manage to get a lot of media attention, there's a chance they'll "disappear" or "commit suicide"; Palantir is a dodgy company with people, influence and interests going very high up.
pasabagi 6y ago
This is literally how privatization works. My dad runs a small construction firm in London, and was invited to provide the sandwiches for the opening of a new park. For that colossal buy-in, they got their company name on a plaque, as a generous funder of the park's construction. In reality, the whole thing was paid for by the state. Except the sandwiches, of course (I think another business might have paid for a bench or two). It's a simple scheme - the party looks like they did a project on the cheap, so they look thrifty to voters. The businessman gets real tangible benefits. The politicians responsible make friends who'll open doors for them in the future.

dekhn 6y ago

I live in the US and used to build products to deal with sensitive healthcare data. I recall talking to an Important Person from the NHS, years ago, who proudly told me that the NHS could do things with its healthcare data that US companies could not- without having to deal with things like HIPAA, etc. I told them that while they might be able to do that, it would probably make a bunch of people mad if they weren't totally transparent about it.

loeg 6y ago
HIPAA protects us less than most people think. As they say, the "P" in HIPAA is not for Privacy.
- WrtCdEvrydy 6y ago
  Funny thing, ask enough people and you'll realize most don't realize it stands for Portability.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

throwawaypal 6y ago

If things like this upset you, you are seriously naive about the operations of your government. As a former Palantir employee, I can say with some confidence that the govt and private company's make efforts to ensure these things remain secret..

badrabbit 6y ago
It helps them sell the deal. Like a secret weapon,as opposed to a liability.
davedx 6y ago
You shouldn’t be less upset or angry just because you understand how the world works. Cynicism is self-defeating. Never resign yourself to this crap
Taek 6y ago
Echoing another commenter, it's absolutely okay to be upset about things that run-of-the mill. If we didn't get upset about everyday human rights violations, we'd still have slaves.
- hackissimo123 6y ago
  And if we didn't get upset about everyday human rights violations, China wouldn't currently be herding people into concentration camps. Wait...
  - mtnGoat 6y ago
    touche!
616c 6y ago
Then be a hero and stop using a throwaway maybe? If you are embarrassed or maybe ashamed of your former association with Palantir, don't bring it up or don't get caught working there or both. I work on similar public healthcare projects where our website mentions the contracts, down to the division. I tell people in meetings I don't do things I wouldn't stand by on public record. Own it.
- Cthulhu_ 6y ago
  I wouldn't to be honest; they are a whistleblower and unless they manage to get a lot of media attention, there's a chance they'll "disappear" or "commit suicide"; Palantir is a dodgy company with people, influence and interests going very high up.

pasabagi 6y ago

This is literally how privatization works. My dad runs a small construction firm in London, and was invited to provide the sandwiches for the opening of a new park. For that colossal buy-in, they got their company name on a plaque, as a generous funder of the park's construction. In reality, the whole thing was paid for by the state. Except the sandwiches, of course (I think another business might have paid for a bench or two). It's a simple scheme - the party looks like they did a project on the cheap, so they look thrifty to voters. The businessman gets real tangible benefits. The politicians responsible make friends who'll open doors for them in the future.