2020 RDR Index

Will we govern tech? Or will we let it govern us?

RDR Director Jessica Dheere on our fifth index and the path forward

Key findings

Companies are improving in principle, but failing in practice

How can companies change?

Our recommendations for companies and policymakers committed to protecting and promoting human rights online

The 2020 RDR Index

We evaluated 26 of the world’s most powerful digital platforms and telecommunications companies on their disclosed policies and practices affecting people’s rights to freedom of expression and privacy.

Learn more: Explore our data by issue area and service.
Digital platforms
 
Rank
Score
Twitter
1
53%
Verizon Media
2
52%
Microsoft
3
50%
Google
4
48%
Facebook
5
45%
Apple
6
43%
Kakao
7
42%
Mail.Ru
8
27%
Yandex
8
27%
Alibaba
10
25%
Baidu
10
25%
Samsung
12
23%
Tencent
13
22%
Amazon
14
20%
Telecommunications companies
 
Rank
Score
Telefónica
1
49%
Vodafone
2
42%
AT&T
3
37%
Telenor
3
37%
Deutsche Telekom
5
34%
Orange
6
27%
MTN
7
23%
América Móvil
8
22%
Axiata
9
16%
Bharti Airtel
10
15%
Etisalat
11
10%
Ooredoo
12
6%
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Who improved the most?Mail.Ru and MTN were the most improved companies this year.
Digital platforms
27%Mail.Ru

For the first time, the Russian social media giant published a commitment to respect users’ freedom of expression and privacy rights.

Telecommunications companies
23%MTN

The South African telco issued new statements reinforcing its commitment to human rights and released a transparency report for the first time.

Who’s on top?Twitter and Telefónica scored highest this year.
Digital platforms
53%Twitter

For the first time, Twitter earned the top spot among digital platforms, thanks to improved clarity around policy enforcement.

Telecommunications companies
49%Telefónica

Telefónica improved its transparency across many areas, including how it handles government censorship and network shutdown demands.

Who’s at the bottom?Amazon and Ooredoo scored lowest this year.
Digital platforms
20%Amazon

Amazon earned record profits, but fell short on respect for human rights, and scored significantly lower than other U.S. platforms.

Telecommunications companies
6%Ooredoo

The Qatari company failed to disclose key details about how it handles user information and online speech.

Who improved the most?Mail.Ru and MTN were the most improved companies this year.
Digital platforms
27%Mail.Ru

For the first time, the Russian social media giant published a commitment to respect users’ freedom of expression and privacy rights.

Telecommunications companies
23%MTN

The South African telco issued new statements reinforcing its commitment to human rights and released a transparency report for the first time.

Who’s on top?Twitter and Telefónica scored highest this year.
Digital platforms
53%Twitter

For the first time, Twitter earned the top spot among digital platforms, thanks to improved clarity around policy enforcement.

Telecommunications companies
49%Telefónica

Telefónica improved its transparency across many areas, including how it handles government censorship and network shutdown demands.