Federated Data Platforms: Understanding the NHS Contract Controversy with Palantir

If you've been keeping up with tech news you may have heard talk around the buzz of Federated Data Platforms, but what are they? And why are they important?

2 minute read

What is a federated data platform?

In simple terms, a Federated Data Platform is a new cutting-edge tool that will help to manage and leverage data across different sources without the need for a centralised repository. Data will remain at its source, until the same control but when needed it will come together in real-time.

How will it help patients?

It will be able to help connect the medical records of millions of patients through different systems. The hope is that this will then reduce the time on waiting lists and delays in hospital discharge.

Is it currently live?

We can consider it live, but it is still a work in progress. The idea of a Federated Data Platform has been around for a while now, but it has only recently gained momentum, with more people working on making it become a reality. Many companies are still testing it out and adoption of the platform on a full scale will take time. There are still many challenges to overcome.

Who's behind it and how much is it costing?

Tech giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are investing huge amounts of resources into research and development with their own spin on how to create Federated Data Platforms.

However, NHS England has awarded a £480 million contract to Palantir to operate its Federated Data Platform. The contract will last seven years with investments in the first year costing around £25.6 million alone. Palantir is a US spy technology firm that was founded by billionaire Peter Thiel. Some of its funding came from the CIA’s venture capital fund which has raised many concerns.

Potential concerns

While there is a lot of excitement around the thought of developing Federated Data Platforms as with any emerging technology, critics have concerns.

A huge concern is around data privacy and security. NHS England has said that companies cannot access healthcare data without permission from the NHS. Many skeptics still have concerns that, by allowing data to be shared across numerous sources, it may lead to the emergence of new vulnerabilities. There is still the possibility of sensitive data being exposed to additional threats of unauthorised access.

The lack of standardisation and protocols for developing Federated Data Platforms is also a growing concern over the interoperability of different platforms. There is a possibility that the exchange of data may not work as well as expected.

Another major concern is the potential misuse of data and how well this will be regulated. With the involvement of so many different companies, there is a question of governance and trust. Accountability is also a big question just in case any of this widely distributed data is misused.

Navigating the unknown waters

As we enter a new future with exciting new technological advances of Federated Data Platforms, it is also wise to be aware of the many concerns. A decentralised, connected data ecosystem has the power to hold many possibilities to change the healthcare industry for the better. At the same time, there are legitimate concerns over security, privacy, and how these systems will integrate together.