GetUp Petitions Westpac To Cut Palantir Ties
The advocacy group is calling on the bank to terminate contracts with the data analytics firm.
Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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GetUp has launched a petition demanding that Westpac disclose its deal terms with Palantir and terminate its contract with the firm. The organisation is calling for restrictions on defense and intelligence contractors accessing Australian banking data.
Why it matters
The campaign reflects growing public concern over Palantir’s involvement in military and intelligence surveillance systems. By targeting major institutions, activists aim to force transparency regarding the security of personal data.
Switzerland previously rejected Palantir bids nine times over seven years. Meanwhile, Coles has confirmed it will officially end its relationship with the analytics firm in 2027.
The players
GetUp
GetUp is an Australian progressive advocacy group that organises campaigns on social and political issues through digital petitions.
Westpac
Westpac is one of Australia's big four banks and provides a wide range of financial services to individuals and businesses.
Palantir
Palantir is a software company that specialises in big data analytics, particularly for government, intelligence, and defense agencies.
Coles
Coles is a major Australian supermarket chain that recently faced public pressure regarding its data partnerships.
The details
GetUp distributed the petition to its subscribers via email to pressure the bank to distance itself from the intelligence contractor. Westpac has not yet provided comment on the petition or the nature of its relationship with the company.
Timeline
Coles is scheduled to terminate its contract with Palantir in 2027.
The Tech Race
This campaign follows a global trend of government entities and corporations in places like Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands moving to phase out Palantir. It signals an increasing public demand for data sovereignty and independence from third-party intelligence contractors.
For the average customer, this petition raises questions about how financial institutions handle and protect sensitive personal information. Continued pressure may lead to greater transparency from banks regarding their third-party vendor agreements.
The takeaway
Advocacy groups are increasingly using public petitions to force large corporations to scrutinise their data partners. Customers concerned about their information security can monitor these campaigns for updates on bank policies.
Further reading
For more context on digital privacy and corporate security, visit the Cybersecurity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cyberdaily.
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