France replaces Palantir with domestic ChapsVision to reduce US tech dependence

France's domestic intelligence agency DGSI has decided to replace US technology firm Palantir with French company ChapsVision, marking a significant shift toward digital autonomy in Europe. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the decision on 16 June 2026, emphasizing the need to build "real autonomy" and avoid "strategic dependencies" on American tech companies. The transition comes despite Palantir's contract with DGSI being renewed in December 2025 for three additional years, and the switchover is expected to take several years to complete.

The move reflects growing European anxiety about reliance on US-controlled technologies, particularly following Washington's recent restrictions on foreign nationals' access to Anthropic's advanced AI models Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Lecornu stated that France "cannot accept new strategic dependencies in the digital sphere" and must develop its own tools rather than depending on foreign powers. ChapsVision, founded in 2019 and generating €200 million in revenue in 2025, will become the technological foundation for the DGSI's critical data processing, taking over work historically performed by Palantir since 2016. The French firm has already secured initial contracts with DGSI and has reportedly been selected by Germany's BfV internal security service.

This decision aligns with broader European skepticism toward Palantir, which has faced mounting scrutiny. Germany's military ceased using the company's products earlier in 2026, while the United Kingdom is reviewing the National Health Service's £330 million contract with Palantir following political pressure. London's Mayor Sadiq Khan blocked a proposed £50 million Palantir contract with the Metropolitan Police on procurement grounds, prompting the company to threaten legal action. Campaign groups have long raised concerns about Palantir's surveillance capabilities and data protection implications, though the company maintains it simply provides data-processing services.

Beyond the Palantir transition, Lecornu outlined France's broader ambitions for AI sovereignty. The government plans to invest €655 million in artificial intelligence infrastructure, computing capacity, and research. France is rolling out a government chatbot built on models from French startup Mistral AI to 1 million of its 2.6 million civil servants, with additional plans for a public health chatbot for state health insurance agency Ameli. These initiatives reflect European governments' desire to reduce technological dependence on the United States amid geopolitical tensions and unpredictability under the Trump administration.