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) |
|---|
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 |
