Sadiq Khan Agrees to Text and Email Search in Palantir Legal Dispute

Legal Battle Over Blocked Deal

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has consented to a search of his text messages and emails as part of a High Court legal dispute with Palantir. This development follows Khan's decision in May to block a £50m deal that would have seen Palantir provide AI technology to the Metropolitan Police for automating intelligence analysis in criminal investigations. Palantir subsequently sued Khan's office, accusing him of prioritizing politics over public safety.

Procurement Concerns

The Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac), which oversees large contracts for Scotland Yard, stated that there was a "clear and serious breach" of procurement rules regarding the proposed two-year deal. Mopac indicated that the police had seriously considered only one supplier, Palantir, during the procurement process.

Scope of the Search

At a preliminary hearing, the High Court was informed that Khan and over a dozen other officials from Mopac and the Greater London Authority would be designated as "custodians." This designation means their digital communications, including text messages, WhatsApp messages, and Microsoft Teams chats, will be searched for information relevant to the legal case and then disclosed to Palantir. Sarah Brown, Khan’s former director of communications, will also have her correspondence searched.

Mayor's Office Position

Initially, the mayor's legal representatives did not consider it necessary for Khan to be included in the search, citing his senior position and the likelihood that relevant documents would be held by other individuals. However, they agreed to Palantir's persistent requests on a pragmatic basis.