Former Labour Deputy Leader Tom Watson Joins Palantir
Lord Watson said he would defend his new employer while acknowledging that "legitimate questions" about big technology firms "require answers".
Tom Watson, the former deputy leader of the Labour Party who now sits in the House of Lords, has taken up a role with Palantir, the US data analytics company, according to the BBC.
Lord Watson said he intended to speak positively of his new employer, while also recognising public concerns about the influence of large technology companies.
"There are legitimate questions about big tech firms and they require answers," Lord Watson said, according to the BBC, without elaborating further in the material made available.
Palantir, co-founded by Peter Thiel, provides data analysis software used by governments, militaries and corporations around the world. The company has previously attracted scrutiny over its work with intelligence agencies, police forces and, in Britain, the National Health Service.
Details of Lord Watson's specific responsibilities at Palantir were not disclosed in the BBC's report.
Lord Watson served as deputy leader of the Labour Party from 2015 to 2019, working alongside then-leader Jeremy Corbyn. He stood down from the House of Commons at the 2019 general election and was later made a life peer.
The BBC has been approached for further comment on the terms of Lord Watson's appointment.
Sources
- Ex-Labour deputy leader Tom Watson joins Palantir — BBC Politics
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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