The German police plan to prioritize European and open-source technological solutions to reduce dependence on foreign providers. This is indicated by a response from the federal government to a query from the AfD party in the Bundestag. Currently, several state police forces use software from the US group Palantir, which has drawn criticism due to potential data protection risks and technological dependency.
Open source and data sovereignty in law enforcement 🔒
The shift towards open-source tools involves auditing the source code and ensuring no backdoors exist. Interoperability between federal and state systems is key, as is the use of robust encryption and local storage. The goal is to ensure sensitive data does not leave the European Union. The transition will require technical training and a gradual replacement of proprietary licenses, with deadlines not yet defined by the government.
Goodbye Palantir, hello German bureaucracy 🐌
The decision sounds good in headlines: technological sovereignty, secure data, Europe first. But anyone who has seen a German official request a pen with three forms knows the change will be slow. Meanwhile, officers will continue using Excel to track criminals, and Russian hackers will have plenty of time to update their CVs. Palantir is leaving, but the bureaucracy stays.