I agree wholeheartedly with your analysis. Sadly I think it is precisely because Palantir** is evil and gives the amoral powers that be what they want that Palantir and its ilk will thrive.

I find it ironic that so few recognize the honesty in the name, "Palantir." It comes from "seeing stones" from "The Lord of the Rings." In the story, they were powerful but couldn't be used by the heroes, because they could not all be accounted for. Sure enough, Sauron had one and used it to control Sauruman.

Thiel doesn't even try to hide his evil. Yikes.