Palantir has tried to clear up the confusion about its identity through a series of articles on its blog, but even its former employees have a hard time describing exactly what the company does. While they point out that its software connects and transforms different types of data to serve government agencies and large corporations, their descriptions could apply to hundreds of other companies.
Some former employees argue that part of the mystery is intentional. Palantir relies on a marketing strategy that emphasizes its image as a powerful intelligence partner, using terms and titles inspired by the military and fantasy literature, such as its name taken from the "vision stones" in The Lord of the Rings. It also employs teams that work on the ground inside client organizations to solve complex data issues.
The company, which has long been associated with intelligence agencies and the U.S. military, maintains that it supports "the most important institutions in the world" and has not deviated from its core mission of serving the West, while critics argue that it practices a high degree of opacity that prevents it from being held accountable or understanding its role accurately.
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