Artificial Intelligence, Shareholder Engagement
Joseph Gentle
2024 Shareholder Resolutions on Generative AI ...

The rise of generative AI (gAI) over the last 18 months has raised numerous questions about how to regulate these powerful new technologies so that they do not compromise people’s ability to exercise their human rights. Generative AI poses a particular threat to the right to freedom of expression, including the right to access information, because it makes it so easy to create and spread deceptive, yet believable content. False content threatens people’s ability to make informed decisions, a prerequisite for healthy democracies.

2024 Shareholder Resolutions on Generative AI & Disinformation: A Build-the-Vote Messaging Guide for Sustainable Investors
Artificial Intelligence
Jessica Dheere
Ahead of This Year’s Elections, Shareholders ...

Shareholders at Alphabet and Meta, following on the success of a similar resolution at Microsoft last month, have filed shareholder proposals recommending that the companies issue annual reports on the risks of misinformation and disinformation produced and amplified by their deployment of generative artificial intelligence (gAI). All three companies have made multibillion dollar investments in gAI.

Ahead of This Year’s Elections, Shareholders Demand Transparency from Big Tech on Risks of AI-Powered Disinformation
Artificial Intelligence
Joseph Gentle
Shareholders Demand Transparency from Microsoft ...

At Microsoft’s annual general meeting on Thursday, shareholders will vote on a resolution recommending that the company issue an annual report on the material risks of generative AI-powered mis- and disinformation to its business operations. The proposed report would include Microsoft’s plans to mitigate those risks, as well as the effectiveness of its efforts. The resolution, which appears as Proposal 13 on the company’s proxy statement, was submitted by Arjuna Capital (lead filer), Azzad Asset Management, Eko, and Open MIC. 

Shareholders Demand Transparency from Microsoft on Material Risks of AI-Powered Disinformation
Press Releases
Michael Connor
Jessica Dheere Joins Open MIC as Advocacy ...

“Finance-focused strategies promise to be a game-changer in advancing human rights in the digital age,” said Jessica Dheere. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to build on Open MIC’s pioneering work in this field and to explore new frontiers, by broadening the base of people who are adept at challenging corporate power to ensure that information technologies do not compromise—and ideally reinforce—social justice and people’s expression, privacy, and labor rights.”

Jessica Dheere Joins Open MIC as Advocacy Director
Audrey Mocle
​​Microsoft’s 2023 HRIA Misses the Mark on ...

While Open MIC supports the assessment’s recommendations for improvements to Microsoft’s policies and practices, we believe the assessment fails to live up to its promise of giving shareholders and other interested stakeholders a meaningful assessment of Microsoft’s responsibility for the human rights impacts at issue. We call on Microsoft to implement these recommendations and to remain transparent and accountable to their stakeholders throughout the process.

​​Microsoft’s 2023 HRIA Misses the Mark on Expectations for the Tech Sector under the UNGPs

Data Security

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Investors Withdraw Verizon Shareholder Proposal on Government Surveillance Programs

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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.

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