In her submission Lewis, who left the Labour Party this summer, wrote: “Coventry City Council signed a £500,000 contract with Palantir, a company that has attracted significant public concern over its work in defence, surveillance and policing, including its role in Israel’s genocide in Palestine.”
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The contract has drawn strong criticisms from myself as a local councillor, as well as local unions, campaigners and Zarah Sultana MP.
“This is not only because of Palantir’s involvement in the defence industry but also because the council have been making cuts to vital services.”
Palantir has said it was not true it was supporting AI-assisted targeting, external in Israel. However, the company has confirmed it has a contract with the Israeli Defense Forces.
Genocide scholars have declared Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, but the UN and several Western nations have said they will only consider a ruling by a court as authoritative.