Chris Spyrou

Referring to it as a political project isn't a descriptor that we often get when we read or hear about Palantir.

What specifically do you mean by that?

I mean, to spell it out a little bit for our listeners, we're talking things here about our specific purchases by way of their contracts with Coles.

Now, Coles does say that it's a purely logistical contract.

It's a contract that they've signed so they can manage their databases and their warehousing and the inventory and manage all those sort of things.

But

We do know that the way that Palantir software operates is that they pull data points, all available data points to paint a picture of you and make assumptions about us.

I think the counter argument, though, that comes up in these discussions, David, is that if I've got nothing to hide, I shouldn't be worried.

What's your take on that?

Digital rights advocates have long argued that Palantir should not be here in Australia.

We should not be having or signing any contracts as a government or even our corporations here.

One group has gone so far, GetUp has gone so far to put fake QR codes in Coles.

They're not fake QR codes, but they appear to be Coles QR codes.

And when people scan them, it talks about the extent of the Coles Palantir relationship and it directs people to

petition to end that relationship.

That's got more than 65,000 signatures.

What do you make of grassroots efforts like this and the way that the public's been interacting with them?

Companies, especially companies in the Western world, they haven't really shown a tendency to do what's in the best interest of citizens.

And Australian companies are no different, despite what they might say.

How likely do you think the government is to come to the table on your demand?