Australian Institutions’ Partnerships with Controversial AI Company Palantir Under Scrutiny

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 10:46:00 +0200

This article examines the ethical implications of Australian institutions, including the government, Coles, Rio Tinto, Westpac, and the Future Fund, maintaining business relationships with Palantir Technologies. Palantir, led by CEO Alex Karp and co-founded by Peter Thiel, provides AI-driven software used both in commercial applications like workforce optimization and in military contexts for identifying targets in conflict zones such as Gaza and Iran. The piece highlights Palantir’s involvement in actions the UN Special Rapporteur has described as 'profiting from genocide.' Despite these controversies, Palantir has secured contracts in Australia totaling over $50 million, with access to sensitive government data. Coles uses Palantir’s platform to analyze workforce data across its supermarkets, while the Future Fund holds $103 million in Palantir shares, reportedly without assessing human rights concerns. The article draws parallels with the UK, where public pressure has led organizati