German police forces are expanding their use of Gotham, a surveillance platform developed by U.S. tech company Palantir and originally funded in part by the CIA. The software can rapidly compile vast amounts of data, producing a detailed profile of an individual within seconds—pulling together personal information like name, age, address, fines, and criminal history, alongside cellphone data and scanned social media content. Enhanced by artificial intelligence, Gotham is promoted as a powerful tool for law enforcement and intelligence agencies, promising to streamline investigations and help combat crime and terrorism. Three federal states—Bavaria, Hesse, and North Rhine-Westphalia—are already using it, with Baden-Württemberg preparing to follow suit.

Critics, however, warn that Gotham’s capabilities also enable what they call “predictive policing,” where algorithms may target individuals who have not committed any crime. Privacy advocates and civil rights groups caution that such technology risks sweeping up innocent people into surveillance nets, eroding civil liberties, and creating an environment of constant monitoring. While authorities present Gotham as a cutting-edge solution for public safety, its rapid growth in law enforcement raises serious concerns over the balance between security, personal freedom, and the potential for abuse.

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SOURCE: DW