France Ends Use of Palantir AI Tools for Domestic Provider
France’s domestic intelligence service will discontinue the use of AI data tools from the US technology company Palantir, opting instead for a domestic provider to avoid "strategic dependency," announced Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
"We must use our own AI models; we cannot accept new strategic dependencies in the digital sphere,"Lecornu stated on social media.
"We cannot rely on tools developed by foreign powers. We must have our own tools."
This decision comes amid growing concerns among European governments about reliance on US-controlled technologies and follows the US government's recent decision to restrict access to Anthropic’s latest AI model.
Lecornu’s office confirmed that the French DGSI intelligence agency will replace Palantir’s tools with those from French firms ChapsVision. However, since Palantir’s long-term contract was renewed only in 2025, the transition is expected to take several years.
"France must build real autonomy and not depend on the goodwill of certain partners, who are capable of turning off the access tap"for artificial intelligence, the prime minister emphasized.
ChapsVision to Become Key Provider
Founded in 2019, ChapsVision reported €200 million (£173 million) in revenue in 2025, compared to Palantir’s $4.5 billion (£3.3 billion). The company stated it will become the "technological foundation" for "many public agencies for their critical data processing needs."
ChapsVision’s technology, which focuses on collecting, preparing, and analyzing data, has reportedly also been selected by Germany’s BfV internal security service. Palantir responded by stating it would "continue to support the French government wherever its solutions are needed."
Palantir’s Controversial Background and Global Context
Palantir was co-founded by right-wing billionaire Peter Thiel, an ally of former US President Donald Trump. The company has collaborated with the US government to supply software to ICE, which is conducting an immigration crackdown, and to identify targets in the US-Israel conflict involving Iran.
Campaign groups have long warned that Palantir’s products pose risks related to surveillance, infringements on individual freedoms, and data protection. Palantir maintains that it provides powerful data processing services without engaging in these activities.
Several countries have taken steps to reduce reliance on Palantir. Germany has announced it will no longer use the company’s products, while the UK is reviewing the National Health Service’s £330 million data contract with Palantir following political and parliamentary pressure.
Additionally, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, blocked a proposed £50 million Palantir contract with the Metropolitan Police, citing concerns over value-for-money and procurement processes.
France’s AI Investment and Government Initiatives
On Tuesday, Lecornu announced that France plans to invest €655 million in artificial intelligence and establish a shared chatbot for all state services. The government will also develop a public health chatbot for the state-owned health insurance agency, Ameli.
"The money would fund infrastructure, computing capacity, research, companies and industrial sectors,"he explained. This announcement coincides with the rollout of a government AI tool offering a chatbot to one million of France’s 2.6 million civil servants.
Built on models from the French startup Mistral AI, the system aims to assist with tasks such as accelerating legal case processing and helping researchers secure grants. Ministers are keen to mitigate security risks posed by commercial AI tools.
Contributions to this report were made by and Agence France-Presse.
