Open MIC

One of Open MIC's key issue areas is AI Misinformation/ Disinformation. Especially in the context of democratic elections, public health crises, or financial markets, the potential negative effects of disinformation on a global scale are staggering. Open MIC and partners Arjuna Capital, Ekō and Azzad Asset Management have filed shareholder proposals at Alphabet, Meta and Microsoft, calling on each respective company to issue a report on the material risks of its generative artificial intelligence (gAI) technology facilitating misinformation and disinformation, as well as assessing the effectiveness of its efforts to remediate harms they can cause.

We can expect adjustments to the shareholder proposal process under the new administration, but we must not allow pending legislation to eviscerate shareholder rights. Sanford Lewis and Cynthia Simon of Shareholder Rights Group make a great case for keeping proxy proposals as an essential part of the shareholder-company contract. https://loom.ly/f88Ky4Y

Now more than ever, companies need to fight to uphold human rights. "Progress in the business and human rights world has never been linear," Bennett Freeman explains in a Business & Human Rights Resource Centre op-ed, but we need to anticipate significant challenges during Trump's second term. https://loom.ly/B7Gmf80

?? Great news for our shareholder engagement campaign at Microsoft: Influential proxy firm Glass, Lewis & Co. recommends voting FOR the proposal we co-filed with Arjuna Capital, calling on Microsoft to be more transparent about misinformation and disinformation connected to its generative AI. #shareholderengagment #aimisinformation

THE PLATFORMS CAVED ?? Op-ed outlines social media's role in pushing America's electorate to the right. According to Julia Angwin of Proof News, "That led to possibly the most misinformed electorate we’ve ever seen."

ICE already started laying the groundwork to expand surveillance the day Trump was elected. The agency is calling for industry input on how to expand their "Intensive Supervision Appearance Program (ISAP)" focused on tracking immigrants after their release from detention centers. https://loom.ly/APYDQuA

Social media leaders are now purposely spreading disinformation on their platforms. Op-ed by Joan Donovan of Boston University College of Communication explores this disturbing trend.

Check out our latest newsletter for updates on shareholder engagement campaigns at Open MIC. Highlights include: -New investor brief on tech and workers' rights -Exempt solicitation letter filed at Microsoft -New focus on supporting reproductive rights through data privacy https://loom.ly/eMpSivU

Responsible investing won't be the same under a Trump presidency. Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) is doubling down on their commitment to human rights.

Today at 2pm ET: Join Fight for the Future's webinar on what to expect & how work continues around censorship, privacy, abortion access, surveillance, and more. "Technology can be used to automate fascism or to revolt against it." https://loom.ly/j0ezVi8