Data infrastructure stories

Sep 8, 2026

Britain's energy grid operator awards Palantir £21m contract without competitive bidding

Britain's National Energy System Operator (NESO) has awarded Palantir a £21.2 million contract through a direct award process without inviting rival bids. The justification filed by the publicly owned operator indicates the proprietary nature of Palantir's platform creates barriers to switching providers.

Sep 8, 20263 sources

Jul 31, 2026

Trump blames Minnesota for cyberattack that federal officials suspect Iran committed

President Trump blamed Minnesota's government for a cyberattack targeting more than 30 water systems, contradicting federal officials who suspect Iranian involvement and prompting pushback from Gov. Tim Walz.

Jul 31, 20264 sources

May 18, 2026

Publicis Groupe Acquires LiveRamp for $2.2 Billion to Expand AI Capabilities

French advertising giant Publicis Groupe agreed to acquire US data company LiveRamp in a $2.2 billion deal to deepen its investment in AI-driven marketing infrastructure.

May 18, 20261 source

Apr 23, 2026

Vast Data Raises $1 Billion at $30 Billion Valuation with Nvidia Backing

Data infrastructure company Vast Data has secured $1 billion in fresh funding at a $30 billion valuation, with backing from Nvidia and other major investors.

Apr 23, 20261 source

Top claims

▪Palantir's interim contracts give it an unfair advantage in bidding for future UK public tenders
▪The proposed Strategic Enterprise Modelling Capability contract is expected to run from July 31, 2027, until July 2032, with a potential two-year extension.
▪The National Energy System Operator's direct-award contract with Palantir runs from September 8, 2026, until July 31, 2027, with six-month extensions available until July 31, 2028.

People involved

Donald Trump

Subtopics

AI1 AI for developers1 AI startups1 Compute, chips & AI infrastructure1 Critical infrastructure security1 Cybersecurity1 Energy security & geopolitics1 Iran1 Mergers & acquisitions (M&A)1 State-federal relations1 U.S. domestic politics around Iran war1 Vendor lock-in1

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