Joe Lonsdale, a billionaire who helped start the data company Palantir, caused a major controversy recently. On December 5, he posted on the social media site X and called for the return of public hangings.
Many academics and civil rights advocates are criticizing him. They say this kind of talk is dangerous because his company builds powerful surveillance technology for the government.
Lonsdale Wants “Masculine Leadership”
Lonsdale wrote that if he were in charge, he would change how the law punishes violent criminals. He said, “We will quickly try and hang men after three violent crimes.” He also stated that the government should do this in public to scare others.
Lonsdale is worth about £2.8 billion. He argued that society needs balance and that it is time to bring back “masculine leadership” to protect vulnerable people.
Worries About Tech Leaders
Gil Durán is a journalist who watches trends in the tech industry. He said Lonsdale’s comments show that rich tech leaders are becoming more radical and dangerous. Durán believes Lonsdale is fantasizing about having the power to use state violence on a large scale.
These comments happened while Palantir is increasing its work with the Trump administration. In April 2025, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) gave Palantir a £23 million contract. They are building a system called “ImmigrationOS.”
This system helps the government find, track, and deport people who are not citizens. Documents show the system gives ICE instant information on individuals. Amnesty International warns that this tool constantly watches people and puts the human rights of immigrants at risk.
Reactions to the Comments
The controversy started when Lonsdale defended Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth had posted about military strikes against boats suspected of smuggling drugs. Lonsdale agreed with the strikes and said sinking boats publicly helps stop crime.
When people criticized him, he made the comment about public hangings. Many people on social media were alarmed when he used the phrase “if I’m in charge later.”
Experts have harsh words for Lonsdale. Taulby Edmondson, a professor at Virginia Tech, said the rhetoric was very dark. Sean Carroll, a physicist, called the comments “immaturity masquerading as strength.”
A Threat to Civil Liberties
Civil liberties groups are worried about the mix of Lonsdale’s extreme views and Palantir’s technology. The company’s software pulls data from many government databases to create a massive surveillance network.
Palantir has received over £700 million in federal contracts since President Donald Trump returned to office. Stephen Miller, a key White House official and Palantir investor, is helping to plan mass deportations.
Critics warn that combining this powerful technology with authoritarian ideas is dangerous. They say Lonsdale’s comments reveal the true worldview of people who hold great political and technological power.
