CSET’s Rita Konaev provided her expert insights in an article published by TIME discussing the unique involvement of Palantir Technologies, a data-analytics firm, in the Russian-Ukraine War. Led by CEO Alex Karp, Palantir crossed into Ukraine early in the conflict to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky, offering their advanced data and AI software to aid Ukraine’s defense.
Tech companies such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Starlink have also been actively involved in safeguarding Ukraine against Russian cyberattacks. They have undertaken initiatives to transfer crucial government data to the cloud and maintain the nation’s connectivity. These efforts involve a commitment of hundreds of millions of dollars to support Ukraine’s defense.
National-security officials and experts caution that these new tools may end up in the hands of adversaries. Rita Konaev raised significant concerns about the long-term implications of the deployment of advanced technology in Ukraine. She stated, “The prospects for proliferation are crazy.” She also posed critical questions about the future implications: “Most companies operating in Ukraine right now say they align with U.S. national-security goals—but what happens when they don’t? What happens the day after?”
Most companies operating in Ukraine right now say they align with U.S. national-security goals-but what happens when they don’t? What happens the day after?Rita Konaev, CSET Deputy Director of Analysis and Research Fellow
Read the full story in TIME.