UK's NHS Patients Cannot Opt Out of Palantir Data Platform
UK patients cannot prevent their data from being processed by Palantir's Federated Data Platform (FDP) for direct care. However, individual NHS trusts retain the option to not use the platform. This has raised concerns about public confidence and data safeguarding, despite assurances.
Key points
- UK health minister Preet Kaur Gill confirmed patients cannot opt out of Palantir's FDP for direct care use.
- Patients can only opt out of secondary data uses like planning and research.
- NHS trusts can choose not to adopt the FDP, with 168 of 214 trusts signed up and 123 live.
- Concerns have been raised about potential risks to public confidence due to Palantir staff accessing identifiable patient data.
Patients in England are unable to opt out of having their data processed by Palantir's Federated Data Platform (FDP), according to health minister Preet Kaur Gill. Speaking to MPs, Gill clarified that the national data opt-out mechanism does not currently apply to the FDP, particularly when data is used for direct patient care.
While patients cannot prevent their data from entering the FDP for primary use, the platform's implementation is not mandatory for all healthcare providers. Individual NHS trusts can opt to use alternative solutions if they meet national standards and priorities. As of recent figures, 168 out of 214 NHS trusts have signed up for the FDP, with 123 currently utilizing it.
The use of the FDP has generated controversy, with reports indicating that some Palantir staff have been granted access to identifiable patient data under a new administrative role. This move has prompted warnings about potential risks to public confidence in the NHS's data safeguarding practices, despite official assurances.
Sources
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