A police association representing thousands of officers is contemplating legal action against the Metropolitan Police concerning its implementation of an AI system developed by Palantir.
Over the weekend, the Met announced it has initiated numerous investigations into alleged misconduct by officers, which were flagged by the AI tool. As a result, three individuals have been arrested on suspicion of various crimes including abuse of authority for sexual gain, fraud, sexual assault, and rape, as well as misconduct in public office.
In addition, many other officers are under scrutiny or have received prevention notices for issues ranging from manipulating the duty roster for personal gain to violating the hybrid working policy.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF) condemned the use of AI, characterizing it as a “deeply troubling invasion of privacy,” and expressed its intention to consider pursuing legal recourse against the force.
The association, representing over 30,000 frontline officers in London, cautioned its members to refrain from using work devices while off duty. It claimed it had not been notified about the AI being utilized “to monitor the activities of officers in the capital.”
This development follows the Met’s announcement to employ Palantir’s technology to enhance professional standards, especially in light of recent high-profile incidents involving police misconduct, including the case of Wayne Couzens, a former officer who was sentenced to life imprisonment in September 2021 for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard.
According to the police, the technology allows for the aggregation of already lawfully collected data to identify behavioral patterns and take appropriate actions. They emphasized that the use of AI does not negate the need for further investigation in any individual cases.
However, the MPF warned that the employment of AI could significantly erode the trust that officers place in their leadership.
General Secretary Matt Cane asserted that police officers deserve respect for their private lives and raised concerns about the measures instituted by the force.
Cane stated, “The use of AI in this manner will severely damage the trust officers have in the Metropolitan Police and exacerbate the already low morale within the ranks. The characterization of this monitoring as merely administrative is misguided; it represents a profound violation of privacy.”
He continued, “While no one desires ineffective officers within policing, the deployment of AI for surveillance purposes is neither fair nor justified. It exposes an unacceptable invasion into the personal lives of officers.”
Cane further expressed concern that the federation had only been made aware of plans to enhance existing lawful monitoring software, indicating they were not informed that this would extend to the deployment of Palantir’s AI system.
“This ongoing 24/7 tracking is highly intrusive and warrants scrutiny, particularly when applied to officers during their off-duty hours or at home. There’s an alarming presumption of misconduct that is unwarranted,” he added.
Cane also mentioned that many officers remain unaware of how their location data is being tracked and analyzed by the AI system. There exists a legitimate risk that this information could be misused to challenge overtime claims, sick leave, performance, or conduct without thorough investigation.
“Overall, this overly harsh approach raises significant concerns regarding legality, privacy, and compliance with GDPR, particularly regarding the right to a private life as outlined in Article 8 of the Human Rights Act,” he stated.
Mr. Cane concluded, “The Federation now strongly encourages all members to exercise extreme caution when using Metropolitan Police-issued devices while off duty.”
“We are taking immediate legal action on these issues and will provide additional guidance to our members as necessary.”
Palantir, known for its analytics work with entities like the US Army and New York Police Department, was co-founded by billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel, who has also been a supporter of former US President Donald Trump.
A spokesperson for the Met Police stated, “We have been transparent about the deeply rooted cultural challenges we face and the urgent need to address them, while also supporting the vast majority of our workforce who demonstrate professionalism and integrity consistently.”
“The new technology, along with our Lawful Business Monitoring, consolidates the data we already have to identify behavioral patterns and take action accordingly.”
“This technological advancement is a significant step forward, promoting a proactive approach focused on early detection, prevention, and appropriate intervention.”
“Data automation, including limited AI usage, assists in analysis and information management, but it does not replace the necessity for further investigation and the professional judgment exercised by officers within the Professionalism Directorate who handle individual cases.”
Palantir has been approached for comments.
