SYDNEY, March 5, 2026, 18:18 AEDT
- GetUp is pushing Coles to drop its partnership with Palantir, citing concerns about surveillance.
- Coles insists it uses Palantir software for internal planning—not for surveillance.
- Coles shares edged up a bit on Thursday.
Coles Group Ltd COL.AX confirmed it relies on Palantir’s software for business analytics and internal planning, following a fresh petition from activist group GetUp pushing the retailer to drop the U.S. data firm amid surveillance worries. A Coles spokesperson said the system is used by staff for bakery output planning, rostering, and assessing the impact of promotions. Palantir, for its part, maintains its software is restricted to processing data as directed by clients.
The dispute comes at a time when major retailers are ramping up their use of data tools to cut expenses and avoid empty shelves, just as shoppers become increasingly cautious about the handling of their data. Coles, for its part, inked a deal in 2024 to roll out Palantir’s technology in over 840 supermarkets, earlier reports show.
As of Thursday, GetUp’s campaign page reported over 24,000 signatures on the petition, urging Coles to cut ties with Palantir and come clean about what data the tech firm can actually see.
Coles ended the day at A$21.27, a gain of 0.1%, data from the company’s investor site showed.
Coles and its bigger competitor Woolworths have been pouring money into automation, boosting online fulfilment, and rolling out new loyalty programs, all battling for a slice of market share in a squeezed grocery sector that’s seen Aldi grow, too.
Trust is the sticking point here. Critics warn that tying these systems together, even if they’re just for staffing or inventory, could open the door to profiling both customers and employees. One wrong move, and there’s a risk of a political backlash.
Coles has tapped Palantir’s platform to help with labour and cost management, according to the Australian Financial Review’s coverage of the partnership launch.
The route from a petition to tangible results isn’t straightforward. Consumer drives like this often lose momentum quickly, and Coles hasn’t indicated any plans to reverse its years-long tech implementation. Still, failing to reassure both shoppers and employees that private information remains secure could leave the company’s image exposed.
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