Calls grow to ban Palantir in Australia after manifesto described by UK MP as ‘ramblings of a supervillain’

Just weeks after it implied some cultures are inferior to others in a manifesto described by one UK MP as the “ramblings of a supervillain” , the US spy tech company Palantir says it is just “a software company” amid calls for Australian government agencies to ban any new contracts with the controversial company. In Australia, state and federal contracts with Palantir have reached nearly $80m, and federal investment in the company is reportedly more than $160m. Palantir, a Trump-aligned company that was co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, develops software for companies and government agencies to analyse vast amounts of data. Earlier this month, Palantir published a manifesto on X , arguing the benefits of American power and implying some cultures are inferior to others. “Some cultures have produced vital advances; others remain dysfunctional and regressive,” Palantir wrote in the post. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email The public pronouncement, along with concern over the use of Palantir software by ICE immigration enforcement in the United States and the Israeli military, has led to calls in Australia and the UK for governments to cease using Palantir in their operations. The Australian Greens senator David Shoebridge said it would be “sensible” to issue a blanket ban on all new contracts with Palantir, “pending a comprehensive public audit of their existing government agreements”. …