Palantir CEO Addresses Employee Questions on ICE Contracts

Karp's video response fails to provide specifics on how Palantir's products are used by ICE, instead offering employees NDA-protected briefings.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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In a pre-recorded video shared with Palantir employees, CEO Alex Karp addressed growing internal questions about the company's work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, Karp did not provide details on how Palantir's products are utilized by ICE, instead offering workers the ability to sign non-disclosure agreements for one-on-one briefings. The video came after weeks of employee pressure for more transparency on Palantir's ICE contracts.

Why it matters

Palantir's work with government agencies like ICE has long been a source of controversy, with critics arguing the company's data analytics tools enable harmful immigration enforcement. The lack of transparency around these contracts has fueled internal unrest at Palantir, as employees seek to understand how their work is being used.

The details

In the nearly hour-long video, Karp focused on Palantir's role in 'building and maintaining Western power' rather than directly addressing employee questions about ICE contracts. Towards the end, Karp said Palantir would not have a policy 'that's different depending on the president' and claimed institutions planning to break laws do not use Palantir's products. However, he declined to provide specifics on how ICE utilizes Palantir's tools, instead offering workers the ability to sign NDAs for more detailed briefings.

  • In January 2026, Palantir employees flooded internal Slack channels with questions about the company's work with ICE following the fatal shooting of Minneapolis nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents.
  • On February 10, 2026, Palantir's global director of privacy and civil liberties engineering shared Karp's pre-recorded video with all employees.

The players

Alex Karp

The CEO of Palantir, a data analytics company that has faced scrutiny over its contracts with government agencies like ICE.

Courtney Bowman

Palantir's global director of privacy and civil liberties engineering, who shared Karp's video with employees.

Alex Pretti

A Minneapolis nurse who was fatally shot by federal agents, sparking internal questions at Palantir about the company's work with ICE.

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What they’re saying

“Most of all, Dr. Karp has made clear his commitment to reinvigorating his direct engagement with Hobbits and this discussion endeavors to model the form of rigorous dialogue that should be at the center of Palantir's prized culture.”

— Courtney Bowman, Palantir's global director of privacy and civil liberties engineering (wired.com)

“Palantir will not have a policy 'that's different depending on the president', and that Democrats also prioritized these issues under prior administrations.”

— Alex Karp (wired.com)

What’s next

Palantir has indicated that the video shared with employees is just the beginning of the company becoming more forthcoming on its work with ICE, and that additional information for workers can be expected in the future.

The takeaway

Palantir's lack of transparency around its government contracts, particularly with agencies like ICE, has fueled internal unrest and criticism from outside observers. The company's reluctance to provide specifics on how its tools are used for immigration enforcement underscores the ongoing tensions between its business interests and employee concerns over the ethical implications of their work.