Love in the time of Palantir
Sep 2, 2026 · 25m
Summary
Planet Money explores Palantir’s data analytics through a satirical New York dating event where organizer James Steinberg used public records to profile attendees. The episode clarifies that Palantir provides software to help governments like ICE connect disparate data silos rather than owning a master database. While the event highlighted privacy concerns and facial recognition flaws, it surprisingly resulted in several successful dates among the skeptical tech-savvy crowd.
Topics discussed
The Palantir Dating Event and Attendee Reactions
Event Organizer James Steinberg and the Satire Behind the Event
How Palantir Software Actually Works: The Airbus Case Study
The Dating Night Begins: Data Enrichment and Public Records
Privacy Failures: Facial Recognition Errors and Misidentification
Zach's Digital Footprint: Photos and Unwanted Surveillance
Palantir's Role in Government Surveillance and Data Silos
ICE, Master Databases, and the Scope of Government Data
Event Aftermath: Dating Matches and Conclusion
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