Sadiq Khan's emails to be searched in Palantir Met AI deal dispute

London Mayor Sadiq Khan will have his digital communications, including text messages and emails, searched as part of a legal dispute over the blocking of a £50 million contract between the Metropolitan Police and technology firm Palantir. The High Court made the order as part of the ongoing legal battle.

Palantir is suing the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac), an entity within the mayor's office, following its decision in May to prevent the Met from entering a two-year agreement with the firm. The proposed deal aimed to provide artificial intelligence technology to automate intelligence analysis in criminal investigations.

Digital Communications to be Reviewed

At a preliminary hearing on Thursday, the High Court was informed that Mayor Khan and over a dozen other officials from Mopac and the Greater London Authority will be designated as “custodians”. This designation means their digital communications, encompassing text messages, WhatsApp messages, and Microsoft Teams chats, will be examined for relevance to the legal case and disclosed to Palantir.

The search of Mayor Khan’s communications is specifically set to cover the period from September 1, 2025, to May 28, 2026. Joseph Barrett KC, representing Mopac, stated in written submissions that the mayor was not initially considered a necessary custodian due to the decision being made by the deputy mayor for policing and crime and the likelihood of documents being held by others. However, Mopac consented to the mayor’s inclusion on a pragmatic basis following Palantir’s persistent requests.

Also listed as a custodian is Sarah Brown, who previously served as Mayor Khan’s director of communications and strategy before taking up the role of Downing Street’s director of communications in July.

Dispute Over Procurement and Ethics

Palantir’s legal claim, filed at the High Court in June, asserts that Mopac introduced an “unlawful veto” by improperly considering the firm’s “values and ethics” in its decision to block the contract. This allegation stems from press articles citing concerns about Palantir’s ethics following Mopac’s refusal, with Mopac confirming that Ms Brown initiated press briefings regarding the move.

Mopac, in its defence, stated that Palantir was the sole supplier the Met had seriously considered for the contract. The office also contended that the police force failed to present its procurement strategy for approval in a “clear and serious breach” of procedure, preventing City Hall from ensuring value for money. Mopac’s lawyers argued that the Met’s procurement strategy was unlawful or posed an unacceptable risk of unlawfulness, leaving them with no other lawful or realistic option but to block the deal.

Next Steps in the Case

A full hearing for the case is scheduled to take place in January 2026. In the interim, the Metropolitan Police have commenced a new procurement process for the contract, seeking alternative solutions for its artificial intelligence technology needs.