1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

The Trump administration's plans to merge personal data across federal agencies through Palantir's technology is deeply concerning and a severe threat to privacy rights. We must speak out against this unwarranted government surveillance of average Americans. Compiling detailed personal information such as financial records, medical histories, student debt and more without consent is a gross violation of civil liberties. This could enable oppressive monitoring and profiling of citizens on an unprecedented scale. Such a centralized database of sensitive data creates ripe opportunities for abuse of power and misuse by the government. There are simply no sufficient safeguards or oversight to justify handing over this level of private information to any administration. Once compiled, this trove of data could be exploited by current or future administrations to target individuals and groups based on their identities, beliefs or activities. We cannot allow this assault on privacy to stand. I urge you to take immediate action to block implementation of the president's data sharing executive order. Palantir's contracts enabling this data consolidation across agencies must be terminated. Stronger privacy protections and strict limitations on government data collection and sharing need to be legislated to prevent such overreach. The fundamental rights of Americans are at stake. Surveillance of this magnitude by the state is incompatible with a free society.