The Wet Dream of All Dictatorships

Baden-Württemberg’s government has quietly expanded AI-powered surveillance despite legal concerns and political backlash. The Greens, alongside the CDU, pushed through a €25 million deal for Palantir Gotham—a controversial software linked to tech billionaire Peter Thiel—while bypassing parliamentary approval. The move has drawn sharp criticism, even from within their own ranks.

Meanwhile, federal authorities introduced new rules requiring online platforms to store users’ IP addresses for up to three months. The measure, set to begin just before Christmas, aims to tackle child abuse and online hate speech but has reignited debates over digital privacy and free expression.

The controversy began in March 2025 when Innenminister Thomas Strobl of the CDU signed the contract for Palantir Gotham. At the time, the deal lacked a legal foundation, rendering the software unusable. The Greens, despite their long-standing opposition to Palantir, agreed to the purchase but later distanced themselves from it. They claimed the licensing terms were unchangeable, leaving them stuck with a €25 million system they refused to fully endorse.

By November 2025, the Greens struck a compromise with the CDU. They approved an amendment to the Police Law, tying it to the expansion of Schwarzwald National Park. This allowed limited police use of Palantir from the second quarter of 2026, framing it as a temporary fix while awaiting European alternatives. Critics, including the SPD, Pirates, and even Green Party member Cem Özdemir, condemned the move. Özdemir, despite his party’s involvement, had previously called for broader AI surveillance in the region. The deal’s secrecy and legal grey areas sparked outrage. The FDP and parts of the Greens accused their own leadership of hypocrisy, pointing to the party’s sudden shift from rejecting Palantir to enabling its use. Meanwhile, the federal government’s decision to mandate IP address storage for three months added to the tension. Officials justified the policy as necessary for combating child exploitation and online extremism, but opponents warned it further eroded digital freedoms. Throughout the process, public attention remained low. The Greens defended their actions as a pragmatic step toward future EU-compliant solutions, though sceptics saw it as a convenient excuse for expanding surveillance powers.

The Palantir deal is now set to take effect in mid-2026 under restricted conditions. Baden-Württemberg’s government insists the software will only be used temporarily, while critics argue the move sets a troubling precedent. With IP storage rules also tightening, the balance between security and civil liberties in Germany continues to shift—often with little public debate.