Experian's tech chief defends credit scores: 'We're not Palantir'

Decoder with Nilay Patel

Vox Media Podcast Network

Business, Technology

4.2 • 3.4K Ratings

🗓️ 26 January 2026

⏱️ 74 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Experian is one of those giant multinationals convoluted enough to have multiple CEOs all over the world, so first I asked Alex Lintner, Experian's CEO of technology and software solutions, to dig into the classic Decoder questions and explain how all of that even works. He oversees big operations like security and privacy, and now, of course, AI. If you want to participate in the modern economy — rent an apartment, buy a car, get a job, etc — you’re part of Experian’s ecosystem, whether you like it or not. At its heart, Experian’s core service is data about people and the choices they make. And this extremely valuable data weirdly makes Experian a part of your life — a life that becomes much smoother if the data the company collects about you tells a good story. Read the full interview transcript on The Verge. Links: Roughly half of Americans are knowledgeable about personal finance | Pew Research How Americans view data privacy | Pew Research Consumer voices on credit reports and scores | CFPB Mercedes-Benz CEO Ola Källenius on Decoder | The Verge The Palantir app ICE uses to find neighborhoods to raid | 404 Media T-Mobile customers exposed in major Experian breach (2015) | The Verge All the news about the Equifax breach | The Verge Subscribe to The Verge to access the ad-free version of Decoder! Credits: Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network. Decoder is produced by Kate Cox and Nick Statt and edited by Ursa Wright. Our editorial director is Kevin McShane. The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for this show comes from Odu.
0:03.0	Running a business is hard enough, so why make it harder with a dozen different apps that don't talk to each other?
0:09.7	Introducing Odu, it's the only business software you'll ever need.
0:14.0	It's an all-in-one fully integrated platform that makes your work easier, CRM, accounting, inventory, e-commerce, and more.
0:22.1	And the best part, O-DU replaces multiple expensive platforms
0:25.6	for a fraction of the cost.
0:27.8	That's why over thousands of businesses have made the switch.
0:31.1	So why not you?
0:31.9	Try O-D-O-4-free at O-D-O-O-O-O.com. That's ODOO.com.
0:41.4	Support for the show comes from Deal.
0:44.5	Let's be honest, most HR platforms are stitched together, using several different services
0:49.8	and softwares all at once.
0:52.4	Of course, the problem is when there's multiple programs at use,
0:55.7	your AI can have trouble navigating across all of them. Deal's different. It's a single
1:01.0	AI-native system for HR, IT, and payroll built from the ground up. That's why AI and side deal
1:07.3	can actually run real work, onboarding, compliance, payroll, approvals, all under
1:12.9	your rules. Whether you're five people or 50,000, deal skills with you. See it in action at
1:19.3	deal.com slash audio. That's d'eel.com slash audio. This episode is brought to you by Vanta.
1:29.8	Security and compliance done wrong is a headache.
1:32.9	Done right, you build trust and grow faster.
1:35.3	That's Vanta.
1:36.4	For startups, Vanta acts as your first security hire,
	...

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