Sadiq Khan Consents to Search of His Texts and Emails in Palantir Legal Dispute

Sadiq Khan has consented to having his text messages and emails examined as part of a legal dispute with Palantir, the high court heard, after he prevented the US technology firm from collaborating with the Metropolitan police.

The London mayor intervened to block a £50m deal between Palantir and the Met in May. The artificial intelligence developer subsequently filed a lawsuit against Khan’s office over the decision.

Lawyers representing the mayor stated they “did not initially consider it necessary” for Khan to be included among those whose communications would be searched before next year’s court proceedings. However, they eventually agreed, citing pressure from Palantir.

Sarah Brown, Khan’s former director of communications, who is now employed by the prime minister, Andy Burnham, will also have her correspondence examined.

The proposed two-year deal would have enabled Palantir, which operates with the Israeli military and the Trump administration in its immigration enforcement, to supply AI technology to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations.

However, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac), which oversees significant Scotland Yard contracts, determined there had been a “clear and serious breach” of procurement regulations. It stated that police had seriously evaluated only one supplier (Palantir).

Following the announcement, Palantir accused Khan of “prioritizing politics over public safety” before declaring in June that it intended to sue the London mayor.

At a preliminary hearing on Thursday, the high court was informed that Khan and more than a dozen other Mopac and Greater London Authority officials would be designated as “custodians”.

This designation means their digital communications, including text messages, WhatsApp messages, and Microsoft Teams chats – where they exist – will be searched for material relevant to the legal dispute. These will subsequently be disclosed to Palantir.

Joseph Barrett KC, representing the mayor’s office, stated in written submissions: “Mopac did not initially consider it necessary or proportionate for the mayor to be added as a custodian, given that the decision was made by the deputy mayor for policing and crime; his senior position; and the likelihood that any documents held by him would be held by other individuals.

“However, Palantir has persisted in its requests, and Mopac has consented on a pragmatic basis.”

Brown, who in July left the mayor’s office to become director of communications at Downing Street, was also designated as a custodian, meaning she too will have her correspondence searched, the court heard.

The decision to include Brown follows Palantir’s assertion in court documents outlining its claim that press articles concerning the mayor’s office vetoing the Met deal referenced concerns about Palantir’s values and ethics. Mopac has confirmed Brown “initiated” press briefings about the decision.