Image by Artem Samokhvalov on Shutterstock
The 2019 Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index will be released in May. The exact date and location will be announced next month. Watch our website for launch details, or sign up for our newsletter.
The 2019 RDR Index—the fourth RDR Index since the first was launched in 2015—is made possible by the hard work of our research team and active engagement by many of the companies we rank. Meanwhile, RDR has big plans in the works for the next three years.
We plan to upgrade and expand the Index methodology in 2019 and 2020 to address the rapidly evolving, increasingly complex human rights threats that internet users face. The fifth RDR Index will be published in 2021 with an expanded methodology and scope.
RDR has kept its methodology consistent since 2017 in order to track companies’ progress over time and provide companies with predictability. After we publish the 2019 Index this May, we will expand our indicators to address human rights harms associated with targeted advertising, algorithms, and machine learning. We will adapt the methodology to include more company types, especially powerful global platforms with core e-commerce businesses such as Amazon and Alibaba. We will also review the current methodology and research process and consider other potential changes in light of how technology and the companies we rank are evolving. The new methodology will be finalized by mid-2020 so that research can begin for the fifth Index, to be released in 2021.
Public consultation
We have started preliminary research and stakeholder consultations needed to draft indicators addressing human rights harms associated with targeted advertising. This month we will publish an update about our progress, release our first set of consultation documents, and invite feedback from all interested parties.
As our timeline for the rest of our methodology expansion and revision work progresses, we will continue to post updates and invite participation in the consultation process. The best way to keep up with our progress and plans is to subscribe to our newsletter here.
Organizational growth
In the second half of 2018, we conducted an impact assessment and undertook a process of strategic planning. That process enabled us to sharpen the way we articulate our mission and vision, and theory of change, as well as how we describe our impact.
Our strategic assessment and planning process also enabled us to make some other key decisions about RDR’s priorities for the next three years. In addition to upgrading, strengthening and expanding the Index, we will focus on three other strategic priorities: increase our impact, visibility, and engagement; strengthen organizational structure and capacity; and diversify funding and substantially increase our budget. For more information, please see our new strategic priorities page.
Over the past five years we have proven the value of the RDR Index. Now the time has come to scale up for long-term impact and sustainability. As we enter this new phase, we look forward to working with companies, researchers, civil society advocates, investors, policymakers, and all other stakeholders who share our vision of a global internet that supports and sustains human rights. If you are interested in working with us to take RDR and the Index methodology to the next level, contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
