THE Good Law Project has claimed a US tech giant has hired a PR firm to pay influencers to attack it on social media amid its investigation into an NHS data contract.
The legal campaign group, which is known for its high-profile court cases against the UK Government, claims to be in possession of emails and a confidential briefing document that reveals the social media campaign.
According to the Good Law Project, influencers have been asked for their “fee expectations” for posting twice on Twitter/X, including a video.
The PR firm also explicitly states to “keep the brand confidential” and not link the posts to its client, Palantir.
It was announced earlier this year that a group led by Palantir had secured the £330 million contract to provide the new NHS shared software system.
The Good Law Project has been highlighting concerns over the deal on the grounds of privacy for patient data.
The PR firm Topham Guerin previously worked for the Conservative Party and was behind the rebrand of the party’s Twitter/X profile as a fact-checking account and a website linking to a fake Labour manifesto during the 2019 General Election.
Jo Maugham (above), the Good Law Project's director, took to Twitter/X to share the claim saying he was aware it sounded “dramatic” but questioned the reason for “secrecy” over the payments to influencers.
He wrote: “I know this sounds dramatic, but we hold copies of a 'confidential' plan run by the Tory attack agency Topham Guerin to pay influencers to attack Good Law Project over the Christmas period.
“Those who accept the offer – which bears the branding of Topham Guerin – are told they must ‘keep the brand confidential and not tag Palantir’. The briefing document is clear that Good Law Project is the only target. And the content must ‘go live before the New Year’."
Maugham concluded: “Lots of questions arise including how many of the bad faith attacks on our work are secretly paid for by Topham Guerin or other Tory attack agencies. And why, if Palantir's operations are above board, it demands secrecy from those it pays.”
Palantir and Topham Guerin have been contacted for comment.
Good Law Project is currently working with presenter Carol Vorderman on a series called The VIP Files. Vorderman shared Maugham's thread writing: “If you see any influencers obviously taking their buck let's name them?”
In August 2022, Rishi Sunak’s team made explicit reference to Good Law Project and its head barrister Maugham, accusing them of “wasting time and money” by challenging government policy in the courts.
