G1. Policy Commitment

The company should publish a formal policy commitment to respect users’ human rights to freedom of expression and information and privacy.

Elements:

1. Does the company make an explicit, clearly articulated policy commitment to human rights, including to freedom of expression and information?
2. Does the company make an explicit, clearly articulated policy commitment to human rights, including to privacy?
3. Does the company disclose an explicit, clearly articulated policy commitment to human rights in its development and use of algorithmic systems?

Algorithmic system — A system that uses algorithms, machine learning and/or related technologies to automate, optimize and/or personalize decision-making processes.

Explicit — The company specifically states its support for freedom of expression and privacy.

Policy commitment — A publicly available statement that represents official company policy which has been approved at the highest level of the company.

Indicator guidance: This indicator seeks evidence that the company has made explicit policy commitments to freedom of expression and information, and to privacy. These standards are outlined in the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights’ Operational Principle 16, which states that companies should adopt formal policies publicly affirming their commitments to international human rights principles and standards. Companies should also publish a formal commitment to uphold human rights as they develop and deploy algorithmic decision making systems, in line with Council of Europe recommendations, in its Recommendation on the human rights impacts of algorithmic systems (2020). The company should clearly disclose these commitments in formal policy documents or other communications that reflect official company policy.

• Company human rights policy
• Company statements, reports, or other communications that reflect official company policy
• Company annual report or sustainability report
• Company “AI principles” policy