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I can't keep up with reality, it's clearly beyond satire and taking the piss now: Palantir, whose UK CEO is the grandson of the notorious fascist founder of the British Union of Fascists, and whose Trump-adjacent leader has the knives out for democracy, backs away from key Starmer policy on digital ID cards, fearing *reputational damage* from being associated with something "Too Evil even for Palantir":
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/starmer-hit-major-blow-tech-36013892
@cstross To be clear: They are just waiting for the right admin ("Reform") to jump on the chance to do it.
@cstross Labour really is fascist adjacent now. Too authoritarian for the authoritarians.
@Outpatientzero Not to worry, Kemi Badenoch is shoving at the Overton Window with a crowbar again.
@cstross
That really says a lot about how far things have gone — when even Palantir thinks something is too unethical, you know it’s completely out of control.
@cstross Trying to imagine some action too evil for Palantir. 🤔
@cstross Ahh, Palantir forgot to ask permission from the Reform Party first.
😂 I call bullshit.
There’s some other reason for them doing this when they’re just morality washing themselves
@cstross Palantir: "💵? 😆Sorry, we have grave concerns about this scheme and the democratic process, take it to the voters."
Government: "Terribly sorry, we meant we'll pay you 2 x 💵"
Palantir: "Ah well, in that case it's obviously of vital national importance and not something to bother the voters with. We're in!"
@cstross
Well can you really blame them? Just too risky.
https://this.weekinsecurity.com/discord-says-users-government-ids-used-for-age-checks-stolen-by-hackers
@cstross
What Cthulhu event horizon did we cross, Charlie, to get to THIS timeline.
And how do I get off it?
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Bias Rating: RIGHT-CENTER (3.5)
Factual Reporting: MIXED (6.0)
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@cstross
Jesus Fucking Christ. TIL that Palantir=Mosely, and while I guess that shouldn't be surprising I will now be throwing up for the foreseeable future
@cstross Well that turned out well
@cstross Centrists took the bait of these corps, hook line and sinker.
@cstross I think this may not be "too evil" so much as it is the private sector minimizing government power. Palantir has or has means to operate fully on contract, where a government ID means the government can meddle.
it's happening, anyway, folks. Do you want it remotely regulated, or no?
@cstross "too evil"... nah, this is just compartmentalization
I'd like to say something substantial but I can think of is BKOODY HELL! 🤬🤬🤬
@cstross Too evil for Palantir is not good. It probably won't happen. But Starmer has put his balls on the line for it,.
@cstross The Nerve suggests it's Oracle that may be involved in the ID scheme.
@cstross But the agents of Sauron fight the long war… They say “no” now, but one day a time shall pass when Keir Saruman gets a Clippy, uhh, Copilot, notification:
“It looks like you’re still trying to write a tender specification for a treacherous privacy-breaching all-seeing data-reaping overly complex (and likely very expensive and inevitably over budget) spyware database project. Would you like help?”
@cstross Or, he's confident it won't happen in this parliament anyway so he's not losing out by not bidding this time, gets a few browny points for being “ethical” and can say “people voted for it” if the next government tries it too.
Meanwhile, it tends to undermine the current government, or at least Starmer's leadership of it, which he might consider a benefit.
@cstross christ on a bike
watch how now Palantir start peddling a slew of “moderate“ politicians in five, four, three…
Easy to explain. Their rivals #oracle fund the #tonyblairinstitute - which is behind the #digitalID proposal. 🤔
@cstross public pressure worked?
@cstross Sauron's like ... "Whoah there, Denethor. That's a bit extreme."
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