Friday, 1 May 2026 — Corporate Watch
Spring is well and truly here, and we realise that an update from us is long overdue. So here’s a brief round up of some of the things we’ve been up to so far this year.
1. Protest Injunctions: a brief history of corporate lawfare
From Greenham Common to Just Stop Oil, injunctions have been exploited to stifle resistance to corporate power for decades. In 2023, this “lawfare” against those who resist was given a boost by draconian legislation which opened the door to increased police powers against protesters. Our in-depth report examines the history of the injunction as a tool to protect corporate interests and offers glimmers of hope in the climate of repression.
Over the past year, we have been collaborating on a project with Privacy International (PI) and several other human rights organisations investigating the militarisation of surveillance technology. The project explores how tech such as AI-powered drones, sensors, satellites developed for the battlefield is being exploited for purposes such as monitoring the movements of refugees and surveilling protestors; and conversely, how everyday products are being weaponised for war. This blurring of the lines between military and civilian products is what we call the militarisation of tech.
As part of this disturbing (yet fascinating) project, Corporate Watch has carried out investigations into ten companies playing major role into this phenomenon. We examine their products, how and where they are being used, and much more. Those companies are (click on the links to read the profiles) US start-ups Anduril, Skydio and Shield AI; Israeli weapons firms Elbit Systems and IAI; British and European “defence” giants, Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo, Thales; and the world’s biggest arms company, Lockheed Martin. Watch this space for a closing report examining what’s driving this phenomenon, as well as opportunities for push back.
In March, we joined a gathering with project partners in Geneva where we shared our findings, and learnt about the important research of info.nodes (Italy), SIPRI (Stockholm), R3D (Mexico), ELSAM (Jakarta), Karisma (Colombia), SMEX (West Asia and North Africa), and PAX (Netherlands), as well the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) and the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).
3. No Palantir in our NHS!
Palantir is an AI-powered analytics firm which is notorious for its work with the US military and ICE. Amid mounting popular opposition in the UK to Palantir’s contract with the NHS, police and other public bodies we joined the The Good Law Project on their new podcast – The Shadow Contract: Exposing why a US spy-tech firm is at the heart of the NHS – to discuss Palantir and the NHS Federated Data Platform.
Additionally, you can check out the briefing we that we contributed research to, along with Health Workers for a Free Palestine, Just Treatment, Medact, Privacy International, The United Tech and Allied Workers (UTAW) Union, The Good Law Project and Amnesty UK. There’s also a webinar to bring the briefing to life.
If you are interested in joining the growing national No Palantir in the NHS campaign, you can attend one of the upcoming onboarding days on May 10th in London or Manchester. Sign up using this form.
4. Corporate Watch expands!
Finally, we’re very happy to announce that not one, but two new Corporate Watchers have just joined our team, meaning we can increase our capacity to provide information for action to campaigns across the UK.
Wishing you all rebellious and joyous May Day,
the team at CW
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