ESG

Tech Giants May Face Court in Europe Over Data Privacy

January 18, 2021

The European Court of Justice recently declared that any regulator in the EU region should be able to bring about new proceedings concerning data privacy, potentially bringing a wave of new cases against Facebook and other U.S. tech giants.
Bloomberg and Rockefeller Asset Management Launch ESG Improvers Index

January 13, 2021

Bloomberg and Rockefeller Asset Management have launched the Bloomberg Rockefeller US All Cap Multi-Factor ESG (environmental, social, and governance) Improvers Index that ranks a company’s improvement in performance on material ESG issues relative to industry peers.
Barron’s: Concerns Grow Over Big Data Bias

January 11, 2021

Susan Ariel Aaronson, research professor at George Washington University, explores concerns as evidence grows that reliance on big data analytical processes can lead to divisive, discriminatory, inequitable, and even dangerous outcomes.
Barrons: The Marketplace demands Ethical AI

December 30, 2020

As Artificial Intelligence grows, industry leaders have faced mounting pressure to be responsible stewards from consumers, community stakeholders, and from their own employees.
UK to Fine Social Media Giants for Failure to Remove "Harmful" Content.

December 16, 2020

In an effort to set the global standard for safety online, the United Kingdom announced it will fine social media companies up to 10 percent of their global revenue if they fail to stop illegal and harmful content from reaching their online users, including terrorism, child abuse material, and misinformation about Covid-19.
Fox Business: Nasdaq Proposes Board-Diversity Rule for Listed Companies

December 02, 2020

Nasdaq filed a proposal with the Securities and Exchange Commission that would require listed companies to include women and people of diverse races or sexual orientation on their boards.
Voters in Switzerland Narrowly Reject RBI

December 02, 2020

Voters in Switzerland narrowly rejected the novel “Responsible Business Initiative” (RBI), which would have extended liability to multinational corporations for noncompliance with international environmental and human rights standards, in Switzerland and abroad.
New California Law Promotes Race-based Corporate Board Quotas

October 05, 2020

USA Today reports that California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a law requiring publicly-traded corporations headquartered in California to appoint directors from underrepresented communities to their boards.
Morrison: Competition Needed in ESG Consultancy Market

September 07, 2020

Writing in National Review Online, Richard Morrison explains why, as consulting firms engaged in advising for-profit companies about how to comply with environmental, social and governance ("ESG") standards do so from a progressive perspective, there is a need to encourage more free-market conservative ESG consultants to develop competing standards and enter the field.
Doshi: Pollution and Human Rights Abuses from Mining for Minerals Used in EV Batteries Undermines Carbon Emissions Savings

August 10, 2020

Writing in Forbes, Tilak Doshi argues that environmental activists pushing for reductions in carbon emissions from internal combustible engines ignore the tremendous pollution and human rights abuses arising from the mining of minerals used in the production of lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, especially in Africa, China, and Latin America.