I think the comparison is more along the lines "might as well supply clean syringes instead of let things go their inevitable course otherwise". The point isn't

I think the comparison is more along the lines "might as well supply clean syringes instead of let things go their inevitable course otherwise". The point isn't about the victims then loving you and thinking you're such a stand up person, it's about why you might as well be the one that's hated but at least you know it was done better than it would have. Importantly, this is only said to apply when you are convinced there is some inevitable humanity destroying technology and you think you can deliver it in a less destroying way than it will be otherwise. It doesn't apply to things that are already present, like selling drugs. That said, I don't think most of what Palantir actually delivers on fits this mold. They're just generally cruddy.