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>Whether this is true or not isn't exactly 'known'

There are historic facts for that. Just google "palantir hbgary" and enjoy.

>some of my former TA's and people that I'd classify as highly ethical work there now

ethical people have been through history participating in evil things, especially in engineering roles. It is peculiar ability of human brain to not notice the dirty smell when it would be very inconvenient (to say the least) to notice it.

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Yeah, I know about hbgary. They definitely have a tainted public perception - I just question the extent to which people seem to vilify them.

Regarding ethics - absolutely. It's also harder to notice when you're being paid quite a bit. It's a pity our profession doesn't have some explicit oaths along the lines of the Hippocratic oath. While it wouldn't stop anyone out to willfully do evil, it might at least make our the average programmer a little more thoughtful regarding values and morals and how they apply to their livelihood.

> I just question the extent to which people seem to vilify them.

The government needs software like Palantir. So I think they're on par with say Lockheed.

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