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USA Today Execs Blame Unions for Spreading Palantir 'Untruths'
USA Today executives claim reporters spread misinformation about their Palantir partnership, blaming unions for planting 'untruths' in newsrooms.
In brief
USA Today executives claim reporters spread misinformation about their Palantir partnership, blaming unions for planting 'untruths' in newsrooms. USA Today executives say reporters are spreading 'untruths' about their Palantir partnership, blaming unions for creating fear and poor decision-making. Originally reported…
USA Today Execs Claim Reporters Spread 'Untruths'
Two months after USA Today reporters criticized the company's partnership with Palantir, executives say their reporters are spreading misinformation to stoke fear and disparage their workplace.
“untruths”
Palantir Partnership Details
USA Today, a $1.1 billion company with 200+ local outlets including The Arizona Republic and The Florida Times-Union, announced in August it would monetize readers' data through Palantir.
Union Pushback on Deal
Over 800 local journalists at USA Today-owned outlets argued the Palantir deal creates an inherent conflict of interest for reporters covering President Trump's immigration crackdown.
Union Letter on Privacy Concerns
Rank-and-file workers from 31 newsrooms represented by The NewsGuild-CWA wrote the Palantir partnership threatens trust in news outlets and raises data security questions.
Reed Blames Unions for Misinformation
Mike Reed, USA Today's CEO, says the NewsGuild gives reporters bad information leading to poor decision-making and undermines the company's reputation.
AI and Unions in Newsrooms
Reed claims newsrooms without unions are more successful with AI, while unionized newsrooms face challenges adapting to new technologies.
Palantir's Role in Immigration
Palantir has a $30 million contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to track migrants using ai surveillance technology.
NewsGuild's Data Privacy Concerns
NewsGuild-CWA says USA Today's Palantir partnership raises serious questions about how readers' personal information will be used by federal immigration authorities.
Other Media Partnerships with Palantir
Fox News, Axel Springer, and Thomson Reuters have also partnered with Palantir, facing similar pushback from journalists over data privacy concerns.
Reed Defends Palantir Partnership
Reed says Palantir executives pitched services as execution-oriented, helping newsrooms implement ai solutions without replacing journalists.
Union Claims About AI
NewsGuild-CWA claims the union plants fear that ai will replace journalists, while Reed says the union spreads misinformation about ai's role in newsrooms.
The main idea
USA Today executives say reporters are spreading 'untruths' about their Palantir partnership, blaming unions for creating fear and poor decision-making.
