This table lists digital rights-related shareholder resolutions proposed from 2019 onward for U.S.-based companies covered by the RDR Index, along with the applicable RDR Index indicators. Read the Spring 2021 Investor Update for our latest insights on what shareholders should look for when evaluating how the world’s most important tech companies are addressing their digital rights risks.
| Year | Company | Title | Summary | Relevant RDR Indicator(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Shareholder Proposal Regarding Nomination of Human Rights and/or Civil Rights Expert to Board | Shareholders request that Alphabet’s nominating and corporate governance committee nominate at least one candidate for the board who is recognized for their high level of human and/or civil rights expertise and experience. | G1, G2, G4(a), G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), G5, F12 |
| 2021 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Shareholder Proposal Regarding Report on Takedown Requests | Shareholders request that the board of directors issue a report assessing the feasibility of publicly disclosing the number and nature of government-issued content removal requests. This public disclosure would come in the form of a report and be published on an annual basis. It would be organized by jurisdiction, and include the delisted, censored, downgraded, proactively penalized, and blacklisted terms, queries, and websites resulting from government requests. | F5(a), F6, F8, G2, P10(a), P11(a), P12 |
| 2021 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Shareholder Proposal Regarding Report on Whistleblower Policies and Practices | Shareholders urge the board of directors to solicit a third-party review of the effectiveness of its whistleblower policies in protecting human rights. A report on the review should be publicly disclosed on Alphabet’s website. Coverage: The Verge, Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, OpenMic | G3 |
| 2021 | Amazon | Shareholder Proposal Requesting A Report On Customer Due Diligence | Shareholders request the board of directors commission an independent third-party report assessing Amazon’s process for customer due diligence, to determine whether customers’ use of its products or services with surveillance or computer vision capabilities or cloud products contributes to human rights violations. Coverage: MarketWatch, Corporate Secretary | G2, G4(a), G4(b), G4(d), G6, F1(d), P13, P15 |
| 2021 | Amazon | Shareholder Proposal Requesting A Report On Customer Use Of Certain Technologies | Shareholders request the board of directors commission an independent study of Rekognition and report to shareholders. The report would cover the extent to which such technology could endanger, threaten or violate privacy and/or civil rights, and unfairly or disproportionately target or surveil people of color, immigrants, and activists in the United States; the extent to which such technologies could be marketed and sold to authoritarian or repressive governments; and the potential loss of goodwill and other financial risks associated with these human rights issues. The report should be published no later than September 1, 2021. | G4(d), F1(d), F2(d), F3(c), P1(b), P2(b), P3(a), P5 |
| 2021 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Shareholder Proposal Regarding Human/Civil Rights Expert on Board | Shareholders request that Facebook's board of directors nominate for the next board election at least one candidate who has a high level of human and/or civil rights expertise and experience and is widely recognized as such. Coverage: MarketWatch | G1, G2, G4(a), G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), G4(e), G5 |
| 2021 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Shareholder Proposal Regarding Child Exploitation | Shareholders request that the board of directors issue a report by February 2022 assessing the risk of increased sexual exploitation of children as Facebook develops and offers additional privacy tools such as end-to-end encryption. The report should address potential adverse impacts to children and to the company’s reputation or social license and assess the impact of limits to detection technologies and strategies. | G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), F3(a), F3(b), F3(c), F4(a), F5(a), F6, F7, P16 |
| 2021 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Shareholder Proposal Regarding Platform Misuse | Shareholders request that the board prepare a report assessing the benefits and drawbacks (for Facebook) of the enhanced actions the company used during the 2020 election cycle to reduce the amplification of false and divisive information. The report should characterize and quantify the benefits or harms of such enhanced actions on employee morale, recruitment, and retention; the existence and impact of public boycott campaigns; legal and regulatory actions against the company related to content; and revenue and earnings. The report should be made available by December 2021. | G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), G6(b), F3(a), F3(b), F4(a), F4(b), F12 |
| 2021 | Microsoft | Shareholder proposal regarding surveillance technologies and government contracts | "Shareholders request that Microsoft commission an independent, third-party report evaluating how well Microsoft is implementing its human rights statements and other policies “in the development of products, contracts, and business relationships with government agencies, including law enforcement.” The proposal highlights the use of Microsoft's surveillance products such as the Domain Awareness System (DAS) to enable discriminatory policing, as well as Microsoft's other contracts with the NYPD, DOD, and ICE. ""While Microsoft has a Human Rights Statement, investors seek independent assurances that this policy and associated efforts such as the Aether Committee, Justice Reform Initiative, “Addressing Racial Injustice” statement, and the Responsible AI Principles, are being effectively implemented to prevent customers from using products in ways that interfere with human rights, including systemic racism and discrimination.""" Coverage: The Hill | G1, G2, G4a, G4d, F1d, P1b |
| 2021 | Microsoft | Shareholder proposal regarding the sale of facial recognition technology to government entities | Shareholders request that the Board of Directors generally prohibit sales of facial recognition technology to all government entities, and to disclose any exceptions made, in the board and management's discretion. Coverage: The Hill | G1, G2, G4a, G4d, F1d, P1b |
| 2021 | Microsoft | Shareholder proposal regarding alignment of lobbying activities with company policies | Shareholders request a report discussing “if, and how, Microsoft’s direct and indirect lobbying activities align with company policies and principles on artificial intelligence, public policy, human rights, and racial justice, and how the company plans to mitigate risks created by any misalignment.” This proposal focuses on how Microsoft’s lobbying on privacy and facial recognition bills is undermining efforts to pass strong consumer privacy protections. Coverage: The Hill | G1, G2, G4a, G4d, F1d, P1b |
| 2021 | Twitter TWTR | Stockholder Proposal Regarding A Director Candidate With Human And/or Civil Rights Expertise | Shareholders request that at least one candidate nominated for the next board election is recognized for their high level of human and/or civil rights expertise and experience. | G1, G2, G4, G4(b), G4(c) , G4(d) |
| 2020 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Establish a Human Rights Risk Oversight committee | Shareholders request that Alphabet Inc. establish a human rights risk oversight committee, composed of independent directors possessing relevant experience. The committee should provide an ongoing review of corporate policies and practices to assess how the company manages the current and potential impacts of its products and services on human rights. The committee should also oversee whether the company is meeting international human rights responsibilities. The board of directors should consider creating an advisory body of independent subject matter experts who would aid the committee in its oversight responsibilities. The advisory body would also write and publish a formal charter for the committee summarizing its functions, and direct the committee to issue periodic reports. Cites the 2019 RDR Index report. Coverage: Yahoo Finance, OpenMic, Benefits Canada, Financial Times, Morningstar, and Bloomberg Business. 16% of shareholders voted in favor of this resolution. | G2, G3, G4, G4(a), G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), G4(e), G5, F12 |
| 2020 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Report on Takedown Requests Successfully Implemented | Shareholders request the board of directors issue a report assessing the feasibility of publicly disclosing on an annual basis, by jurisdiction, the list of delisted, censored, downgraded, proactively penalized, or blacklisted terms, queries or sites that the company implements in response to government requests. Coverage: Open Mic, GlobeNewsWire, Morning Star, and Deadline. 11% of shareholders voted in favor. | F, F5(a), F6, F8, G2, P10(a), P11(a), P12 |
| 2020 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Nomination of a Human Rights and/or Civil Rights Expert to the Board of Directors | Shareholders request that Alphabet’s nominating and corporate governance committee nominate at least one candidate for the board who has a high level of human and/or civil rights expertise and experience and will qualify as an independent director. Cites the 2019 RDR Index Google report card. Coverage: Corporate Board Member and Chief Executive. 8.9% of shareholders voted in favor. | G1, G2, G4(a), G4(b), G4(c), G4(e), G5 |
| 2020 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Report on Whistleblower Policies and Practices | Alphabet may face business risks related to employee morale and user trust due to insufficient protection for employees voicing ethical and human rights concerns related to company practices. Providing protections to whistleblowers is vital to a well-functioning system. Shareholders request a report evaluating the company’s whistleblower policies and practices and assessing how feasible it is to expand these policies and practices above current levels, especially when the information shared is concerning the public interest and/or information concerning rights contained in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. Coverage: CNet and Deadline. 4.8% of shareholders voted in favor. | G3 |
| 2020 | Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN | Report on Potential Customer Misuse of Certain Technologies | Shareholders request the board of directors commission an independent third-party report assessing the company’s process for customer due diligence to determine whether customers’ use of its surveillance, computer vision products, or cloud-based services contributes to human rights violations. Coverage: GeekWire, Seattle Times, and OpenMic. 31.8% of shareholders voted in favor. | G2, G4(a), G4(b), G5, P13, P15 |
| 2020 | Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN | Report on Efforts to Restrict Certain Products | Shareholders request the board of directors commission an independent study of Rekognition (the company’s cloud-based facial recognition software used by multiple government and law enforcement agencies) and report to shareholders about the extent to which Rekognition may endanger, threaten, or violate privacy and/or civil rights including how it may unfairly or disproportionately target or surveil people of color, immigrants, and activists in the United States. The report should also cover the extent to which this technology may be marketed or sold to authoritarian or repressive governments including those identified by the U.S. Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. Finally, the report should include the potential loss of goodwill and other financial risks associated with these human rights issues and be published no later than September 1, 2020. Coverage: OpenMic, MIT Technology Review, and GovTech. 31.7% of shareholders voted in favor. | G4(a), G4(d), F1(d), F2(d), F3(c), P1(b), P2(b), P3(a), P5 |
| 2020 | Apple Inc. AAPL | Report on Freedom of Expression & Access to Information Policies as Human Rights | Shareholders of Apple Inc. request that the board of directors report annually to shareholders regarding the company’s policies on freedom of expression and access to information, including whether it has publicly committed to respect freedom of expression as a human right, the oversight mechanisms for formulating and administering policies on such freedoms, and a description of actions the company has taken in the past year in response to government or third-party demands that were likely to limit free expression or access to information. Cites the 2019 RDR Index Apple report card. Coverage: Financial Times, The Verge, and Reuters. 40% of shareholders voted in favor. | G1, G2, G3, G4(a), G4(b), G5, G6(a), F3, F4(a), F5, F6, F7 |
| 2020 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Proposal Regarding Political Advertising | Shareholders request that the board of directors report on the controversy surrounding political advertising and posts on Facebook. This report should evaluate the implications of the company’s policies that may exempt politicians’ posts and political advertisements from elements of platform rules such as the company’s Community Standards and its fact-checking process. This report should also assess the operational, reputational, and social license implications of the company policies and the board’s assessment of the concerns regarding the potential impact of those policies on democracy, public discourse, and civil and human rights. Coverage: AdExchanger, CNBC, and MapLight. 12% of shareholders voted in favor. | G2, G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), G5, F1(b), F1(c), F1(d), F3(a), F3(b), F3(c), F4(c), F12 |
| 2020 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Nomination of a Human/Civil Rights Expert on the Board | Shareholders request that Facebook's board of directors nominate for the next board election at least one candidate who has a high level of human and/or civil rights expertise and experience and is widely recognized as such, as reasonably determined by Facebook's board. Cites 2019 RDR Index Facebook report card. Coverage: Corporate Board Member, Chief Executive, OpenMic, and The Street. 3.7% of shareholders voted in favor. | G1, G2, G4(a), G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), G5 |
| 2020 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Report on Human/Civil Rights Risks | Shareholders urge the board of directors to oversee the management team’s preparation of a report on board-level oversight of civil and human rights risks. In so doing, Facebook might consider reporting on board-level expertise in civil and human rights; the responsibilities of the board for advising on and managing civil and human rights risk; board-level expertise pertinent to oversight regarding civil and human rights issues impacting Facebook’s community of global users; and the presence of board-level infrastructure to ensure ongoing consultation with leading civil and human rights experts. Coverage: OpenMic. 7.7% of shareholders voted in favor. | G2, G4(a), G4(b), G4(c), G4(d), G5, F1(b), F1(c), F1(d), F3(a), F3(b), F3(c), F12 |
| 2020 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Report Assessing the Risk of Increased Sexual Exploitation of Children and Their Privacy | Shareholders request that the board issue a report by February 2021 assessing the risk of increased sexual exploitation of children as the company develops and offers additional privacy tools such as end-to-end encryption. The report should address potential adverse impacts to children (18 years and younger) and to the company's reputation or social license, as well as the impact of limits to detection technologies and strategies. Coverage: The Street. 12.6% of shareholders voted in favor. | G4(c), G4(d), F3(b), F3(c), F4(a), F5(b), F7, P16 |
| 2020 | Verizon Media VZ | Report on Integrating User Privacy Protections Into Executive Compensation Program | Shareholders request the Human Resources committee of the board of directors to publish a report assessing the feasibility of integrating user privacy protections into the Verizon executive compensation program which it describes in its annual proxy materials. This report does not seek greater disclosure or information regarding cybersecurity but rather is focused on legally permissible and permitted uses of data. Verizon has legally permissible access to enormous amounts of user information including but not limited to users’ locations, internet protocol addresses, online dating site usage, and what news outlets users visit. Coverage: GlobeNewsWire. 30.9% of shareholders voted in favor. | G2, P3(a), P3(b), P4, P5, P6, P9, P10(a), P11(a), P11(b), P12, P16, P17 |
| 2019 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Report on Content Governance | Shareholders call for Alphabet issue a report reviewing the efficacy of its enforcement of Google’s terms of service related to content policies and assessing the risks posed by content management controversies related to election interference, freedom of expression, and the spread of hate speech, to the company’s finances, operations, and reputation. Proponents of the resolution recommended that the report include an assessment of the scope of platform abuses and address related ethical concerns. | G4, G6, F3, F4, F8 |
| 2019 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Report on Human Rights Assessment of Google Search in China | In August 2018, it was reported that Google was developing a censored search engine codenamed Dragonfly for the Chinese market that would comply with China’s repressive censorship laws and “blacklist websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest.” The resolutions requests Alphabet to publish a Human Rights Impact Assessment by October 30, 2019, to examine “actual and potential impacts of censored Google search in China,” with specific consideration of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Coverage: Politico, Open Mic. | G4, G6, F3, F5, F6, F8, P10, P11, P12 |
| 2019 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Strategic Alternatives to Maximize Shareholder Value | Shareholders request that the board of directors retain advisors to study strategic alternatives and put in place a committee of independent directors to evaluate those alternatives in exercise of their fiduciary responsibilities. Shareholders are concerned about privacy violations, data leaks, and illegal location tracking from Alphabet, allegations of collaboration with the Chinese government to censor searches in China, as well as the Federal Trade Commission being asked to investigate violations of the privacy of children by Alphabet. Shareholders believe that Alphabet may be too large and complex to be managed effectively, calling for a strategic reduction in the size and believe that it would be consistent with fiduciary duties of the board to evaluate strategic options with the help of third-party specialists. | G2, G4, G5, G6, F5, F6, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9, P10, P11, P12, P15 |
| 2019 | Alphabet Inc. GOOG | Establish a Societal Risk Oversight Committee | Shareholders request that Alphabet establish a Societal Risk Oversight Committee of the Board of Directors made up of independent directors. The Committee should provide an ongoing review of corporate policies and procedures beyond legal/regulatory matters, to assess the potential societal consequences of the company’s products and services. This Committee should offer guidance on strategic decisions with a summary of its functions made publicly available. Without proper oversight, Alphabet's technologies can proliferate false information and the company’s unprecedented amounts of user information raises significant privacy concerns. Alphabet must holistically consider the potential of its products and services to harm individuals, communities, and society, and embed an ethical framework across its product and business development efforts. The board can draw on ethicists, philosophers, technologists, civil liberties experts, worker-elected representatives, and other experts to provide perspectives on potential and emerging risks and their societal impacts as part of the oversight process. | G2, G4, G5, G6 |
| 2019 | Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN | Prohibit Sale of Facial Recognition Technology to Government Agencies | Shareholders have little evidence that Amazon is effectively restricting the use of Rekognition to protect privacy and civil rights. The proposal requests that the Board of Directors prohibit sales of facial recognition technology to government agencies unless the Board concludes, after an evaluation using independent evidence, that the technology does not cause or contribute to actual or potential violations of civil and human rights. Shareholders recommend the Board consult with technology and civil liberties experts and civil and human rights advocates to assess: 1) The extent to which the technology may endanger or violate privacy or civil rights and disproportionately impact people of color, immigrants, and activists, and how Amazon would mitigate these risks; and 2) The extent to which such technologies may be marketed and sold to repressive governments, identified by the United States Department of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. | G5, G6, P10, P11 |
| 2019 | Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN | Report on Impact of Facial Recognition Technology on Civil Rights | Shareholders are concerned that there is little evidence to suggest that the Board has rigorously assessed risks associated with privacy and human rights and the resulting threats to customers and other stakeholders. Shareholders request the Board commission an independent study of Rekognition regarding the extent to which such technology may endanger, threaten, or violate privacy and or civil rights, and unfairly or disproportionately target or surveil people of color, immigrants, and activists in the United States and the extent to which such technologies may be marketed and sold to authoritarian or repressive foreign governments. | G2, G4, G5, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9, P10, P11, P12 |
| 2019 | Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN | Report on Efforts to Address Hate Speech and Sale of Offensive Products | Shareholders request that Amazon produce a report on its efforts to address hate speech and the sale of offensive products throughout its businesses. According to its policy on offensive and controversial materials, "Amazon does not allow products that promote, incite or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual or religious intolerance or promote organizations with such views." This policy appears to be applied inconsistently, which may indicate a lack of clear internal policies and effective controls. The report to address concerns should discuss Amazon's process to develop policies to address hate speech and offensive products, the experts and stakeholders it consulted while developing these policies and the enforcement mechanisms it has put in place, or intends to put in place, to ensure compliance. | G4, G5, F1, F3, F4 |
| 2019 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Retain Advisors to Study Strategic Alternatives | Shareholders request that the Board begin retaining advisors to study strategic alternatives and empower a committee of independent directors to evaluate those alternatives in exercise of their fiduciary responsibilities. Facebook customers have experienced privacy violations, data theft, news manipulation, and safety breaches and Facebook management has at times given the impression that they are uninformed or working at cross purposes with one another during these times. An independent report commissioned by Facebook found that Facebook had failed to prevent its platform from being used to "incite offline violence" against the Rohingya minority in Myanmar. Shareholders believe that it would be consistent with their fiduciary duties for the board of directors to evaluate, with the help of third-party specialists, the strategic options. | G2, G4, G5 |
| 2019 | Facebook, Inc. FB | Report on Content Governance Policies | Shareholders request the Company publish a report evaluating its strategies and policies on content governance, including the extent to which they address human rights abuses and threats to democracy and freedom of expression. Investors are deeply concerned over Facebook's inadequate approach to governing content appearing on its platforms. Proponents recommend that the report should consider the relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the United Nations' Special Rapporteur reports on Freedom of Expression, and the Santa Clara Principles, which ask companies to disclose the impact of content policies according to: Numbers (posts removed, accounts suspended); Notices (of content removals, account suspensions); Appeals (for users impacted by removals, suspensions. | G1, G2, G4, G6, F1, F3, F4, F5, F6, F8, P10, P11, P12 |
| 2019 | Twitter TWTR | Stockholder Proposal Regarding a Report on Our Content Enforcement Policies | Shareholders request Twitter issue a report to shareholders reviewing the efficacy of its enforcement of its terms of service related to content policies and assessing the risks posed by content governance controversies (including election interference, fake news, hate speech and sexual harassment) | G2, G4, G6, F1, F3, F4, F8 |
| 2019 | Verizon Media VZ | Child Sexual Exploitation | Shareholders request that the Board of Directors issue a report on the potential sexual exploitation of children through the company’s products and services, including a risk evaluation assessing whether the company’s oversight, policies and practices are sufficient to prevent material impacts to the company’s brand reputation, product demand or social license. Verizon’s efforts in this space appear minimal, as Verizon discloses little information publicly on how it systematically manages child sexual exploitation online and through mobile devices. | G2, G4, F1, F3, F5, F7 |
| 2019 | Verizon Media VZ | Cybersecurity and Data Privacy - Senior Executive Incentives | Shareholders request the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors publish a report assessing the feasibility of integrating cyber security and data privacy performance measures into the Verizon executive compensation program. Cyber security and data privacy are vitally important issues for Verizon and should be included to incentivize leadership to reduce risk, enhance financial performance, and increase accountability. | P13, P14, P15, F16, P17, P18 |
