A debate has erupted within the black-red coalition over the use of the police analysis platform “Vera” developed by the US-based company Palantir. While the Christian Social Union (CSU) supports the software’s use at the federal police and the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), the Social Democratic Party (SPD) strongly rejects its introduction.
The CSU’s Mechthilde Wittmann, an interior policy expert, argues that the system has proven effective in the Bavarian State Criminal Police Office and should be used at the federal level to combat crime. She points out that a framework agreement was signed with Palantir under Bavarian leadership, allowing the federal government and states to easily integrate the system.
In contrast, the SPD’s Sebastian Fiedler, the party’s interior policy spokesperson, views the Palantir deal as problematic due to the company’s industrial policy and the involvement of its co-founder, Peter Thiel, in the company’s board of directors. Fiedler describes Thiel as a “particularly threatening democracy opponent” and believes it is unacceptable to finance the company with tax money intended for security authorities.
Fiedler also emphasizes the importance of national sovereignty in the field of security, stating that Germany should not rely on a key technology from the United States. He advocates for alternative solutions, saying that German or European companies could develop high-performance products in a relatively short period of time. According to Fiedler, the police should have access to the best products available, as long as they are made in Germany or Europe.