Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.) | Report on Human Rights Impact of AI Driven Advertising Practices at Alphabet Inc.

Status
Filed
Previous AGM date
Resolution details
Company ticker
GOOGL
Resolution ask
Report on or disclose
ESG theme
  • Social
ESG sub-theme
  • Digital rights
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Technology
Company HQ country
United States
Resolved clause
RESOLVED: Shareholders request the Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc. to publish an independent third-party Human Rights Impact Assessment (the ?Assessment?), examining the actual and potential human rights impacts of Google?s artificial intelligence-driven targeted advertising policies and practices. This Assessment should be conducted at a reasonable cost; omit proprietary and confidential information, as well as information relevant to litigation or enforcement actions; and be published on Alphabet?s website by June 1, 2026.
Supporting statement
RESOLVED: Shareholders request the Board of Directors of Alphabet Inc. to publish an independent third-party Human Rights Impact Assessment (the ?Assessment?), examining the actual and potential human rights impacts of Google?s artificial intelligence-driven targeted advertising policies and practices. This Assessment should be conducted at a reasonable cost; omit proprietary and confidential information, as well as information relevant to litigation or enforcement actions; and be published on Alphabet?s website by June 1, 2026. WHEREAS: Alphabet?s advertising business, which heavily relies on artificial intelligence (?AI?), accounted for more than 75% of Alphabet?s revenue in 2023.1 Algorithmic systems are deployed to deliver targeted advertisements, determining what users see and can result in and exacerbate systemic discrimination and human rights violations.2 Google?s current ad infrastructure is driven by third-party cookies, which enable entities to track users online by accumulating significant personal data -- putting user privacy at risk. Despite these risks, Alphabet?s measures to address privacy shortcomings and broader human rights concerns appear to be limited.   Google?s AI Principles commit to ?considering and assessing new AI projects, products and deals? by integrating ?human rights due diligence [as] part of that process.?3 However, in Q2 alone, Alphabet announced over 30 new ads features and products ?to help advertisers leverage AI and keep pace with the evolving expectations of customers and users?4 -- yet shareholders lack clarity on what human rights due diligence efforts were made to identify and address risks from these products. Additionally, Alphabet?s current policies and practices appear to be insufficient to manage such risks. For instance, Alphabet?s 2023 Ads Safety report does not provide shareholders with clarity on which platforms generated bad ads, what ?inappropriate content? entails, and whether such ads could generate or have generated harms, such as discrimination. Inadequate human rights due diligence measures may also expose Alphabet to regulatory risk. The Digital Services Act requires companies like Alphabet to take measures to integrate human rights considerations into their handling of user data and algorithmic decision-making. The EU's Artificial Intelligence Act will also regulate the development and use of AI. Alphabet?s 2023 Annual Report stated that Alphabet is ?expanding [its] investment in AI across the entire company.?5 In Alphabet?s 2024 Q3 earnings call, Alphabet confirmed significant and growing investments in AI to grow its advertising business.6 If Alphabet fails to implement effective human rights due diligence to manage harms stemming from its AI-driven targeted advertising technology, a central pillar of Alphabet?s business, Alphabet may expose shareholders to significant regulatory, legal, financial and reputational risk. In 2019, Google published a summary of a third-party Assessment of a celebrity facial recognition algorithm.7 Alphabet?s targeted advertising technology, which affect billions, deserves the same due diligence. Alphabet has one of the largest footprints of any entity in the world. A robust Assessment is essential for Alphabet to mitigate risk and will provide shareholders with more clarity on Alphabet?s human rights due diligence efforts. 1  https://abc.xyz/assets/52/88/5de1d06943cebc569ee3aa3a6ded/goog023-alphabet-2023-annual-report-web-1.pdf 2 https://edri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/EDRi_Discrimination_Online.pdf 3  https://blog.google/outreach-initiatives/public-policy/respecting-rights-global-network-initiative-assessment-report/ 4 https://abc.xyz/2024-q2-earnings-call/ 5  https://abc.xyz/assets/52/88/5de1d06943cebc569ee3aa3a6ded/goog023-alphabet-2023-annual-report-web-1.pdf 6 https://abc.xyz/2024-q3-earnings-call/ 7:  https://www.bsr.org/reports/BSR-Google-CR-API-HRIA-Executive-Summary.pdf

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