Bundesrat Advocates for Rapid Deployment of Palantir for Police Use

The Bundesrat is calling for the expedited implementation of the data analysis platform Palantir as a temporary solution for police operations across Germany. This initiative follows the successful pilot program conducted by the Bavarian police, which concluded its testing phase and has been operational since December 25, 2024.

Bavaria's pilot program, known as VeRA (verfahrensübergreifende Recherche- und Analyseplattform), ran from September 2 to December 24, 2024. The platform has integrated various data sources, including the state's case processing system (VBS), the case management system (FBS), and the police search database (INPOL-Land-Bayern), alongside relevant communication for national messaging (EPost). Additionally, important data fields from the operational management system (ELS) and the traffic regulation processing program (ProVi) have also been connected for analytical purposes. The system can continue to grow, with further data sources being added based on the analytical needs of the police departments.

The push for a nationwide implementation of Palantir comes as the Federal Council seeks to address significant gaps in the ability of police forces at both federal and state levels to process, integrate, and analyze information effectively. The Bundesrat highlighted that individuals with mental health issues have increasingly been linked to violent crimes, emphasizing the need for timely identification and assessment of behavioral patterns and risks.

Despite the Bundesrat's request, the implementation of the comprehensive Police 20 initiative has faced delays. A fully operational police data hub is not expected until at least 2030. In the interim, the Bundesrat believes that a shared data analysis platform used by several state police forces can significantly enhance threat detection and law enforcement efforts across the nation.

Currently, Palantir is employed in various capacities within police departments in Bavaria, North Rhine-Westphalia, and Hesse. While the Bundesrat did not directly name Palantir in its resolution, it urged the federal government to revisit plans for a jointly funded and legally compliant interim solution for an automated data analysis platform, which had been abandoned in May 2023.

To facilitate the use of automated data evaluation for law enforcement, the Bundesrat has called for amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code (StPO) to close regulatory gaps that hinder crime prosecution. The proposal is under consideration at the Federal Ministry of Justice following discussions among regional justice ministers regarding the legal framework for implementing cross-jurisdictional analysis platforms in investigations.

Currently, the utilization of Palantir is restricted to preventive measures, with the parameters for automated data analysis being governed by state laws and federal regulations. The recent ruling by the Bavarian Constitutional Court affirmed the legality of using Palantir for threat mitigation but imposed stringent conditions, requiring law enforcement to substantiate claims of imminent danger with concrete evidence rather than vague assumptions or general risk assessments.