France Drops Palantir for Domestic AI Tools to Avoid US 'Strategic Dependency'

Summary

France's domestic intelligence service is replacing Palantir's AI data tools with those from French firm ChapsVision, according to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. The move is driven by growing European concern about reliance on US-controlled technologies and the need for strategic autonomy in the digital sphere. Lecornu stated that France "must use our own AI models" and cannot accept "strategic dependencies in the digital sphere," emphasizing that France "cannot rely on tools developed by foreign powers."

The French DGSI intelligence agency will migrate from Palantir to ChapsVision, though the process is likely to take several years given Palantir's long-term contract was renewed in 2025. ChapsVision, a French firm founded in 2019 with €200m in annual revenue, is positioned to become the "technological foundation" for critical data processing needs across multiple French public agencies. The move reflects broader European skepticism of US tech companies, with Germany's BfV internal security service also selecting ChapsVision, Germany's military ending its use of Palantir products, and the UK's NHS reviewing its £330m Palantir contract following political pressure.

France is backing the strategic shift with a €655m investment in domestic AI infrastructure and homegrown tools, including government-wide chatbots built on models from French startup Mistral AI. The government plans to create AI services available to all state agencies, positioning France as a leader in European digital sovereignty and independence from foreign technology providers.

• France is investing €655m in domestic AI infrastructure using homegrown tools, including Mistral AI models and public chatbots for state agencies