Twenty-five Australian government agencies now use Palantir, the CIA-linked data company that has held contracts here since 2013. Cellebrite clones phones at airports and police stops. Switzerland rejected Palantir nine times in seven years, France dropped it for a domestic alternative in June, Spain blacklisted it in July, and a UK parliamentary committee told the NHS to get out of a £330 million contract. Australia has held no inquiry. Michael West argues it is time for one.
Michael West established Michael West Media in 2016 to focus on journalism of high public interest, particularly the rising power of corporations over democracy. West was formerly a journalist and editor with Fairfax newspapers, a columnist for News Corp and even, once, a stockbroker.
