A secrete investigation by Progressive International, Expose Accenture, and the Movement Research Unit, dubbed the “Accenture Files,” has unveiled the pivotal role of Accenture, the world’s largest consultancy firm, in fueling a global surge toward surveillance, exclusion, and authoritarianism.
The report, based on extensive fieldwork, interviews, and internal documents, reveals how Accenture has embedded itself in security states worldwide, deploying its vast resources to surveil populations, bolster the military-industrial complex, and divert public wealth to private hands.
The Reactionary International investigation, spanning 41 contract case studies across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia, exposes Accenture’s partnerships with notorious tech surveillance giants, including a significant alliance with Peter Thiel’s Palantir.
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This collaboration has secured high-profile contracts, such as a £480 million deal with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to deliver the Federated Data Platform, raising concerns over patient privacy and accelerating NHS privatization. The partnership underscores Accenture’s influence in shaping government policies and infrastructure globally.
“Our research spanning over 41 contract case studies across North America, Europe, Africa, and Asia — reveals that Accenture has joined forces with some of the world’s most notorious tech surveillance giants to advance an agenda of extraction, exploitation and oppression.” Progressive International said.
From Enron’s Shadow to Surveillance Powerhouse
Accenture’s origins trace back to Arthur Andersen, the accounting firm infamous for its role in the Enron scandal. Rebranded in 2001, Accenture incorporated in Bermuda, likely for tax advantages, before relocating to Ireland, securing a 3.5% tax rate compared to 24% in the UK.
The firm’s ascent was propelled by a post-9/11 contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to develop the US-VISIT program, which created the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) then the second-largest biometric database globally, tracking 200 million people.
Internal emails later revealed Accenture manipulated the bidding process to secure this contract, even setting up in government offices before the award.
Today, Accenture employs 750,000 people across 200 offices in 49 countries, generating $64.1 billion in revenue in 2023. Its global reach includes contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense, ICE, and an office hosting an Israeli consulate.
Global Surveillance and Predictive Policing
The Accenture Files detail the firm’s role in building biometric and surveillance systems worldwide. In 2010, Accenture secured a contract for India’s Aadhaar program, now the world’s largest biometric database, covering 1.3 billion people.
In 2015, it developed a biometric identity system for the UNHCR, collecting data on 450,000 refugees in Thailand and Chad. More recently, Accenture won a €50-100 million contract with Finland’s Migri Immigration Service to automate migration processes.
The firm’s vision, outlined in internal documents, describes a “futuristic surveillance and intelligence network” integrating databases, facial recognition, and electronic fingerprint readers.
This vision has materialized through contracts with border agencies globally, fortifying borders and enabling mass surveillance.
Accenture has also pioneered predictive policing, developing algorithms to identify potential criminals before crimes occur. In the UK, contracts with the Metropolitan Police (£80 million), West Midlands Police (£25 million), and others have raised concerns over indiscriminate data collection and bias.
In India, Accenture’s work with police in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar includes facial recognition to gauge crowd “moods.” A 2017 Rotterdam project flagged welfare recipients as potential fraudsters, with algorithms criticized for gender and ethnic bias.
The Accenture-Palantir Nexus and Israel-India Ties
The investigation highlights Accenture’s alliance with Palantir, a firm criticized for enabling deportations and military targeting.
Their joint innovation center, launched in 2022, leverages Palantir’s Foundry platform to optimize big data for decision-making. Both firms participated in the 2024 “AI for War” conference, signaling a commitment to militarized AI. Palantir’s ties to Israeli intelligence, including its role in IDF bombing target systems, amplify concerns about this partnership.
Accenture’s role in facilitating military and surveillance technology transfers between Israel and India is particularly alarming. In 2017, the firm proposed leveraging India’s engineering talent for Israeli defense companies, coinciding with $2 billion in defense exports from Israel to India.
Accenture’s acquisition of Israeli cyberwarfare firm Maglan, named after a controversial Israeli military unit, and its investment in Team8, founded by a former Unit 8200 commander, deepen these ties. The IINSPIRE initiative with NASSCOM further cements Israel-India collaboration in surveillance and defense.
A Trail of Corruption and Failure
The Accenture Files uncover a pattern of scandal, including bid-rigging, corruption, and project failures. Notable cases include:
- Angola (2020): A $54 million contract with Isabel dos Santos, linked to money laundering.
- Australia (2015-2017): A $17.6 million border security contract terminated due to poor performance.
- U.S. (2018-2019): A $297 million contract to recruit border agents yielded only two hires, leading to cancellation.
- UK (2013): A $58 million Scottish police IT contract was canceled, with Accenture paying a $14.8 million settlement.
- Luxembourg (2019): Accenture paid $200 million to settle tax evasion claims.
Despite these failures, Accenture continues to secure contracts, pointing to opaque relationships with governments. In 2023, the UK government alone awarded Accenture £350 million as a “Strategic Supplier.”
The investigation positions Accenture as a central player in the “Reactionary International,” enabling authoritarian regimes and undermining democracy.
Its contracts shape who is deemed a “foreigner” or “risky,” influencing detention, deportation, and military targeting. Unlike Palantir or Lockheed Martin, Accenture has evaded scrutiny behind a veneer of corporate legitimacy.
Progressive International and its partners call for investigators to probe Accenture’s contracts and their implications for civil liberties.
As governments increasingly outsource to consultancies UK spending on consultants rose 370% to $3.95 billion from 2016 to 2022—Accenture’s role in siphoning public wealth and enabling state violence demands urgent attention.
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