Investors Recommend Firms Consider Human Rights, Not Wait for Laws to Improve Privacy

Companies that don't properly consider human rights risk "reputational harm, financial loss ... shareholder lawsuits, and dissatisfaction" from employees and customers, a group of nearly 50 investors said in endorsing New America's index (see 1804250022) from April. Investor Alliance for Human Rights members Boston Common Asset Management, Mercy Investment Services, NEI Investments and Robeco signed. The index recommends tech and telecom companies not wait for new laws to pass to improve data privacy policies. It suggests regular impact assessments to determine how products and services affect user expression and privacy, “effective grievance and remedy mechanisms” and comprehensive transparency reports on data collection.