Surveillance Capitalism

Academic Cites “Duty” of FIFA to Intervene in Rights Case

February 05, 2019

Professor Sarah Joseph of Monash University illustrates how advocates of the business and human rights agenda are pressuring the sports industry to intervene in rights-related issues, asserting that the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has a duty to push Thailand not to extradite a famous soccer player to Bahrain.
WEF Panel Demands Corporate Funding for Social Agenda

February 05, 2019

Panelists from nongovernmental organizations, business, and the media speaking at a session at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting in Davos highlighted the focus of activists on using global governance to close corporate tax loopholes to reduce economic inequality and fund their economic, social, and cultural rights agenda.
WHO Considers Roadmap on Access to Medicines

February 05, 2019

Intellectual Property Watch reports that the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) Executive Board recently held meetings to consider approval of a WHO “roadmap” aimed at making medicines more affordable, including policies to improve “equitable access” through intellectual property rights.
Ben & Jerry’s Removes Plastic Products from Shops

February 05, 2019

As companies respond to pressure from environmental activist groups to jettison “single-use plastic” products, PR Newswire reports that ice cream chain and self-proclaimed “aspiring social justice company” Ben & Jerry’s will no longer offer plastic straws or plastic spoons in its locations beginning in early 2019.
German Body Seeks Closure of All Coal Plants

February 04, 2019

The Los Angeles Times reports that a German government commission has issued recommendations seeking the closure of all of the country’s coal power plants by the year 2038 in favor of a move to renewable energy and $45 billion in spending for regions affected by the policy, in line with the goals of the UN’s Paris climate accord.
Consultant Argues for Positive BHR Duties in Conflict Zones

January 31, 2019

Business and human rights (BHR) consultant Anna Triponel warns that companies operating in “conflict or post-conflict” contexts around the world must be prepared to use their financial and other leverage to push back against human rights violations in these regions and avoid BHR-based lawsuits.
EU Institutions Reach Deal on “Work-Life Balance” Proposal

January 31, 2019

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU have reached a deal on advancing a proposal for an EU directive on “work-life balance for parents and carers” setting new minimum Europe-wide standards on the amount of time off companies must grant new parents.
Canadian Court Considers Treatment of Corporate Conduct Overseas

January 31, 2019

The Washington Post reports that a case pending before the Supreme Court of Canada in which Eritrean refugees are suing a Canadian mining company for forced labor could have substantial impacts on how Canadian courts treat legal claims alleging illegal conduct by Canadian corporations in foreign countries.
UNESCO Institute Engages with Games Industry on SDG Promotion

January 31, 2019

UNESCO’s Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development has engaged with the company Hatch to produce games that push children to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
WEF, UN Initiative Promotes Global LGBTI Employment Standards

January 31, 2019

The World Economic Forum (WEF) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights have partnered with several large companies on an initiative promoting corporate implementation of UN standards on LGBTI inclusion in the workplace and the creation of “due-diligence frameworks” to ensure alignment with these standards.