Sadiq Khan agrees to text and email search in Palantir lawsuit

London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has consented to the search of his text messages and emails after a High Court hearing revealed that the United States‑based technology firm Palantir is suing his office for blocking a proposed £50 million contract with the Metropolitan Police. The AI and data‑analytics company alleges that the mayor’s intervention in May, which halted the agreement that would have allowed the Met to use Palantir’s software for crime‑prevention and investigative purposes, was unlawful. Khan’s decision was reportedly driven by concerns over data privacy, civil‑rights implications and the lack of sufficient oversight for such a large procurement.

The legal dispute now centres on whether the mayor’s actions fell within his statutory powers and whether the communications related to the decision can be disclosed in court. Palantir argues that the mayor’s refusal to proceed with the deal caused financial loss and reputational damage, while the mayor’s office maintains that the scrutiny of the contract was necessary to protect public interest. The case remains unresolved, and the outcome could shape future collaborations between UK law‑enforcement agencies and private technology firms.