# Warning UK ministers are putting interests of Big Tech ahead of public on AI

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/warning-uk-ministers-are-putting-interests-of-big-tech-ahead-of-public-on-ai/
- Published: 2026-09-03T09:01:40+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-03T09:17:45+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/artificial-intelligence-government-use-palantir-ai-b3043351.html
- Topics: AI, Government, Politics, Technology, UK, World

## Key points

- UK public sector awarded 2,000+ AI contracts since 2018, worth £5bn
- MPs and campaigners warn of opaque, unaccountable AI use affecting benefits, policing, asylum
- DWP fraud-flagging AI over-referred older and non-UK claimants, NAO found

## Summary

Ministers have been accused of favouring Big Tech firms over the public interest by spending billions on AI systems without adequate transparency, in a warning from MPs and rights groups including the Open Rights Group. Analysis by consultancy Tussell found the UK public sector has awarded more than 2,000 AI-related contracts since 2018, worth around £5bn, covering areas such as policing, housing, benefits and asylum decisions, yet campaigners say the public remains largely in the dark about how these systems affect them.

The Open Rights Group's new report highlights concerns including the DWP's use of machine learning to flag potentially fraudulent benefit claims, which the National Audit Office found disproportionately targeted older claimants and non-UK nationals, and a £330m NHS England contract with US firm Palantir to link patient data. It also notes Sadiq Khan's decision to block a £50m Met Police deal with Palantir in June over concerns about how the contract was won. The report calls for mandatory impact assessments and expert audits of government AI systems, while a government spokesperson said it was investing £100m to support British AI capability and had frameworks in place to ensure safe, accountable use with humans retaining control of final decisions.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.