American Express shareholders expressed strong support for a consumer privacy proposal filed by sustainable wealth manager, Arjuna Capital in collaboration with open media advocate Open MIC. The proposal was supported by over 21% of shareholders at the company’s annual meeting held Monday in New York, representing a high historic vote on a social issue.
Investors Withdraw Verizon Shareholder Proposal on Government Surveillance Programs
A coalition of investors, which had requested that Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) publish regular reports on government and law enforcement requests for confidential customer data, today commended the company for publishing its first report and made recommendations for improving future reports.
Verizon Agrees to Publish Reports on Government Requests for Data
In a victory for shareholders concerned about the role of telecommunications companies in government surveillance programs, Verizon Communications announced that it will begin to publish regular reports on the number of government requests it receives for customer data.
Investment Firms Say Corporate Role in Government Surveillance Programs Raises ‘Serious Concern’
Citing the potential of “unprecedented and dangerous threats to the privacy of hundreds of millions of people” from government surveillance programs, a group of leading sustainable investment firms has called upon publicly-held U.S. companies to demonstrate leadership by adopting “a pro-active, principled approach to protecting the privacy and rights of their users.”