Big tech companies’ products and services become increasingly prominent in our daily lives, and present a significant potential for the development of society. Digital services can contribute positively, but there are also risks of severe human rights breaches and negative impacts on society. The risks involved are connected to complex issues such as integrity, freedom of expression and impacts on democratic systems, and also extremism, hate speech and sexual exploitation of children.
Many online platforms are built on business models based on maximising the number of interactions and providing users with information that they are interested in. This entails risks for a flow of extreme or one-sided opinions and the spread of damaging, offensive or false content that can further entrench polarisation in society. The online platforms’ algorithms and way of delivering information is also criticised for driving addiction and negatively impacting the mental health development of young users. Technological innovation involves great opportunities for society, such as through “the fourth industrial revolution”, but also accelerated system risks.
For example, the World Economic Forum has flagged that misinformation, disinformation and polarization has high risks both in the short and long term, and points out that these risks are strongly intertwined and could potentially reinforce each other. Regulation has attempted to address the challenges with tech companies responsibility for a safe online environment, responsible artificial intelligence (AI) and the impact on young users. However, there are significant challenges related to the business in the sector being highly dynamic, diversifies, global and technologically complex.
Priorities for the Council on Ethics
The Council on Ethics has been active in the area of tech and human rights since 2019. Together with the Danish Institute for Human Rights, the Council on Ethics produced an investor expectations document in 2020. In March 2023, the Council on Ethics launched an international investor collaboration with the objective that big tech companies strengthen their management of human rights.
Ongoing projects
Within the focus area, the Council on Ethics co-ordinates the following project:
A summary of the investor collaboration activities and outcomes during 2023 is available here. Read more about the project and progress in the focus area in the Council on Ethics’ annual reports.