Demonstrations against technology company outside the Norwegian Customs Authority
On Thursday, several activists gathered outside the Norwegian Customs Authority's premises in Oslo to protest. Groups such as "Tech Against Genocide" and "Tech Action Group" participated in the action, where they were, among other things, dressed in robes reminiscent of the character Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings.
The background for the demonstration is the Norwegian Customs Authority's collaboration with the American technology company Palantir. Palantir provides data analysis software, and the activists expressed their dissatisfaction with the company's operations and their role in international conflicts.
Those in attendance wanted to shine a spotlight on the technological tools that Norwegian public agencies choose to utilize. By using costumes and creative methods, the activists aimed to draw attention to ethical issues related to the use of advanced surveillance technology.
The Norwegian Customs Authority has previously stated that they use technical solutions to streamline control work and combat cross-border crime. So far, there has been no official statement from the agency in response to today's specific demonstration.
The matter has sparked debate over whether Norwegian authorities should collaborate with companies that are controversial internationally. The discussion regarding ethics in public IT procurement is expected to continue in the time ahead.