Vox · What would J.R.R. Tolkien think of Palantir?

1. 1. Many tech companies, including Palantir, draw names and inspiration from Tolkien's works.
2. 2. Tolkien's Palantíri are seeing stones, frequently used by dark forces for deception and control.
3. 3. Palantir Technologies develops software to analyze vast data for military, government, and corporations.
4. 4. Palantir's culture uses Tolkien references, inspiring employees to "Save the Shire" for the West.
5. 5. Tolkien, anti-tech and anti-surveillance, would likely be mortified by his work's corporate appropriation.