The French government has decided to replace the US firm Palantir with the French company ChapsVision for data processing services utilized by the General Directorate for Internal Security (DGSI). Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced this decision on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for France to reduce its dependence on American technology in the digital sphere. Lecornu stated, "We cannot accept new strategic dependencies in the digital sphere" and expressed the goal of achieving "genuine autonomy" in technology.
This change comes after a decade-long partnership with Palantir, which was renewed last December for three more years. The specifics regarding the transition to ChapsVision and the timeline for implementation have not yet been disclosed. Palantir, founded by Peter Thiel, has been providing AI-based data integration tools to the DGSI since 2016, following the 2015 Paris attacks.
Palantir confirmed that its contract with the DGSI remains "fully in force" despite the announcement. Lecornu's comments reflect a broader sentiment in Europe regarding reliance on US technology, especially following recent actions by the US government that have raised concerns about access to AI technologies. In addition to the contract with ChapsVision, France plans to invest €655 million in artificial intelligence and develop new digital platforms to enhance public data access.