Just rewatched Lord of the Rings.

[richard_littler@mastodon.social]

Just rewatched Lord of the Rings. I'd forgotten that Sauron's seeing-stone is called Palantir. So, democracy-sceptic, demon-believing Peter Thiel names his company (and models its logo?) after a device that allows an all-seeing evil eye to "broadcast propaganda" and control what people can and can't see in the service of malevolence... And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?
https://www.reuters.com/technology/uk-lawmakers-call-palantirs-role-public-sector-an-unacceptable-weakness-2026-06-02/

[pynoh@mamot.fr]

@Richard_Littler yeah, when I first heard the name of the company, I couldn't believe it either. It's really calling yourself "BadGuyCompany"

[sprkwd@merveilles.town]

@Richard_Littler it’s madness all round.

[colman@mastodon.ie]

@Pynoh @Richard_Littler Palantirs traditionally had positive uses — Sauron had corrupted them.

My information is that all the, arguably useful for national security, analysis functions of Palantir have been disbanded in last year or two because who needs experts?

[true_heresy@mastodon.social]

@Richard_Littler They also hired Oswald Mosley’s grandson as UK CEO, if you’re catching up with the impossibly obvious evil routine they’re doing.

[cynaq@beige.party]

@Colman @Pynoh @Richard_Littler I think the lesson Tolkien was going for was “there’s no incorruptible all-seeing-eye-technology so don’t pursue it”.

[clintruin@mastodon.social]

@Richard_Littler
"And the UK gov thought: "Yes, let's hire that company to look after our defence, policing, financial and health systems"?"

You are correct, sir.
️

[sempf@infosec.exchange]

@Richard_Littler And Thiel isn't being ha ha funny or anything. He's a robot, the name just makes sense. That description exactly fits it.

Thanks for saying something, the more people who know the better for all of us.

[aliengasmask@mas.to]

@CynAq @Colman @Pynoh @Richard_Littler also made by feanor who did the silmarils. The lesson of hubris and overreach of mortals trying to control and touch the divine and so falling to corruption couldnt be clearer.

[gary_alderson@infosec.exchange]

@Richard_Littler i thought that was fox news

[simonzerafa@infosec.exchange]

@Richard_Littler

It's technically not Sarons but he does make use of them.

They were created at the beginning of the first age of middle earth a Mastodon instance run by the Elves.

[rabid@mastodon.world]

@Richard_Littler Well, it was probably that or the flaming eye of Mordor, not exactly spoiled for choice.

[joerga@social.tchncs.de]

@Richard_Littler We also have Palantir in some states of Germany (like Bavaria), it's used for "crime prevention" - at least according to our politicians

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@Richard_Littler

we need some hobbits

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@Sempf @Richard_Littler

your occasional reminder that "Peter Thiel" is an anagram of "The Reptile"

make of that what you will

#Palantir #Thiel #PeterThiel

[lordcaramac@discordian.social]

@Richard_Littler The Palantiri were originally made by the Elves, but Sauron got his hands on one and did what he could to corrupt them, have them show the users only what he wanted them to see.

[only_ohm@mas.to]

@Richard_Littler

The people awarding the contracts think they're Aragorn (who could bend the palantir to his will against the direct resistance of Sauron). They're not Aragorn.

[epistomai@mastodon.social]

@benroyce @Sempf @Richard_Littler so he's more like Voldemort and not like Sauron?

[benroyce@mastodon.social]

@epistomai @Sempf @Richard_Littler

i don't follow you

who are you talking about?

are you referring to Tom Marvolo Riddle?

i don't see any connection

(/s)

[verenarupp@social.vivaldi.net]

@Richard_Littler I've started calling him Sauron.