Met Police criticised over 'intrusive' use of AI

The Metropolitan Police has been criticised over the pilot of a controversial AI tool to assess officers' device data, which its staff association described as "intrusive".

Developed by the US firm Palantir, the tool is being used to organise data the Met already lawfully holds, to identify potential concerns about officers' behaviour.

The Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF) warned colleagues to be "extremely cautious about carrying Metropolitan Police-issued devices when off duty".

Hundreds of officers are now being assessed for various forms of misconduct, including two arrests and two suspensions after potential criminal activity was flagged.

The federation said it was aware of an upgrade to the Lawful Business Monitoring software.

However, staff "were never informed that the upgrade would include the deployment of Palantir's Artificial Intelligence", according to Matt Cane, General Secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation.

The Met said it would not go into detail on how the AI system works, beyond saying it draws data from across multiple police systems.

A key concern raised by the federation is alleged 24/7 location tracking of officers' devices and how this data could be used to challenge overtime, sickness, performance or conduct.

Cane said: "Where is the transparency on this purge and the reassurance that the correct checks and balances are there on such a significant move?

"This use of AI will seriously damage the trust Metropolitan Police officers have in the force and ride a coach and horses through already plummeting morale."

Within a week of Palantir's rollout, the Met's Professionalism Directorate identified hundreds of potential misconduct breaches and several alleged criminal offences:

• These included abuse of authority for sexual purposes, fraud, sexual assault and misconduct in public office. Two officers have been arrested, with a further two suspended and under investigation.

• Ninety‑eight officers are being assessed for misconduct and another 500 have received prevention notices after being flagged for abusing the IT duty‑rostering system for personal or financial gain.

• A further 42 senior leaders are being assessed for non‑compliance with the Met's hybrid working policy, having failed to meet the requirement to attend the office in person at least 80% of the time.

• There are also 12 officers facing gross misconduct proceedings for failing to declare they are Freemasons, while another 30 have received prevention notices for suspected but uncorroborated undeclared membership.

The rollout of Palantir follows a wider programme to improve culture in the Met after the BBC Panorama investigation Undercover in the Police, which exposed toxic behaviours at Charing Cross police station.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: "This is the Met using technology, data and stronger legal powers to confront poor behaviour, raise standards and fix our foundations as our communities would expect."

Palantir is now widely used across the UK public sector, holding major contracts with the NHS, Ministry of Defence, police forces and financial regulators, and significantly expanding its UK presence.

However, the company has faced backlash over its role in the public sector, with Labour MP Emily Darlington telling the BBC earlier this month that a "foreign tech company" handling NHS patient data represented "a major security risk".

Mayor Sadiq Khan said he had no role in approving the contract between the Met and Palantir as it fell below the £500,000 scrutiny threshold.

However, a spokesperson for the mayor added: "As a general point the mayor would have concerns about using public money to support firms who act contrary to London's values."

The Police Federation said it is now considering legal action over the implementation of Palantir, accusing the force of undermining officers' right to a private life under Article 8 of the Human Rights Act, as well as GDPR protections.

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