May 23, 2024
Authors
Civil society has long sought to influence the policies and practices of technology companies in order to address adverse impacts on people and society and advocate for user rights. Technology companies, on the other hand, should engage with affected stakeholders as part of their responsibilities under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs, PDF). Stakeholder engagement is also increasingly required as part of compliance with emerging regulation, such as the EU Digital Services Act (DSA).
Achieving meaningful stakeholder engagement in the technology industry benefits both civil society and companies. However, both civil society and technology companies face challenges in engaging effectively.
BSR’s new guide, funded by the Omidyar Network, is a practical resource for anyone seeking to engage with global technology companies on digital rights issues related to the development, deployment, and use of their products and services. The guide includes the following sections:
- Key terms, including the definition of “effective engagement”
- How technology companies conduct stakeholder engagement
- Common characteristics of effective civil society-company engagement, as well as the barriers to achieving it
- Practical tips and best practices
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