Palantir

Palantir refers to a fictional object from J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth legendarium, specifically mentioned in “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Silmarillion.” A palantir is a seeing-stone or crystal ball that allows users to see events happening in different locations and communicate with one another over vast distances. The stones are highly powerful and mystical, but they can also be dangerous, as they can distort reality and allow the user to be influenced by the will of others who possess a palantir. The term has become synonymous with surveillance and the idea of seeing into hidden matters or obtaining information that is not readily accessible.