Silicon Valley's Creepy Data Overlords: Inside Palantir's Secret World of Government Tech

Tech bros have a new obsession, and it’s not another food delivery app or social media platform. Enter Palantir, the mysterious data company that’s basically the NSA’s cooler, younger cousin.
The Lord of the Data Rings
Palantir isn’t just another tech startup - it’s a government-loving, military-adjacent powerhouse founded by tech provocateur Peter Thiel and CEO Alex Karp. Named after a magical seeing stone from Lord of the Rings, these guys don’t just handle data, they weaponize it.
Behind the Mysterious Curtain
What exactly does Palantir do? Think of them as the ultimate digital plumbers, creating software that helps massive corporations and government agencies make sense of their chaotic data streams. Their two main products, Foundry and Gotham, can transform messy information into powerful insights - whether you’re Walmart trying to optimize supply chains or ICE tracking potential deportations.
The Techno State Dream
With a military-inspired internal culture where employees call themselves “hobbits” and use NATO radio terms, Palantir represents a new breed of Silicon Valley companies committed to serving “Western values” through technology. Their vision? A world where tech doesn’t just disrupt markets, but actively supports government and military objectives.
Whether you find it fascinating or terrifying, Palantir is reshaping how data powers modern institutions - and they’re just getting started.
AUTHOR: mei
SOURCE: Wired