Germany intelligence agency turns to French AI firm

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has chosen a French artificial intelligence company over U.S. data analytics firm Palantir Technologies, in what German media describe as a move aimed at reducing dependence on American technology.

The Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, known as the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, plans to adopt ChapsVision’s ArgonOS software to process structured and unstructured data for analysis by human intelligence officers, according to reports by WDR, NDR, and Süddeutsche Zeitung, Politico reports. 

BfV President Sinan Selen said in December that the agency intended to prioritize European alternatives to Palantir. Several French security services, including the domestic intelligence agency DGSI, already use similar systems.

“By choosing ArgonOS, the BfV is sending a clear signal for European digital sovereignty,” said Marc Henrichmann, chair of the parliamentary oversight committee for German intelligence services, in comments to POLITICO. “Whether ArgonOS can keep up in the long run will have to be demonstrated by its operational use. Performance must remain the primary criterion, not just the origin.”

The decision comes amid ongoing debate in Germany over the use of Palantir software in law enforcement and intelligence work. Some regional police forces already rely on the company’s tools, while the federal interior ministry is reportedly considering broader deployment. Critics have raised concerns about data protection, fundamental rights, and reliance on a U.S.-based provider.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp recently defended the company’s technology in an interview with BILD, saying it is used on “every serious battlefield in the world.” He said he understood calls for technological independence but questioned whether Germany could afford to exclude Palantir’s systems.

According to the reports, ArgonOS cannot be fully deployed until Germany passes planned intelligence law reforms that would expand the BfV’s digital powers, increase data-sharing capabilities with police, and adjust rules governing data retention periods.

By Sabina Mammadli