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I've always found Palantir terrifying. The name itself is just so brazen. This article's presentation of 'but even if you're sketched out by the defense angle, it's now being used for good!!!' doesn't help.

Also, let's not forget that Palantir helps the FBI infiltrate and attempt to destroy domestic political groups like Occupy.



> I've always found Palantir terrifying. The name itself is just so brazen.

For those who missed the reference, it refers to the all-seeing stone used by the (spoiler!) evil wizard Sarumon.

Depending on your political persuasion, you may find that to be a very fitting name. But I'm surprised that the founders would have chosen it.


To be fair, Occupy largely fell apart on its own.



Only when looked at a certain way. Strike Debt and Occupy Sandy are going strong.

It's hard to say that any decentralized organization 'failed,' exactly. Changing the national conversation isn't exactly failure. But it wasn't outright insurrection either.

And regardless of failure die to internal issue, the executive branch paying money for intel on how to disrupt political groups isn't cool.


Though it was helped along by infiltrators and provocateurs.




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