Telefónica consolidates its position as the world’s leading technology company in three of the rankings published today by the World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA), an organisation that assesses companies’ performance of across key sustainability issues, analysing the 2,000 most relevant corporations.
Telefónica tops the Ranking Digital Rights (RDR) (with 57 points out of 100), which assesses 26 major companies in the technology sector on their treatment of users’ digital rights, focusing on human rights governance, privacy and freedom of expression. Similarly, the company leads, for the fourth consecutive time, the Digital Inclusion Benchmark (DIB) (with 85.2 points out of 100) for its efforts to promote a more inclusive digital economy and society in an analysis of 200 companies. Telefónica also tops the Social Benchmark (with 75 points out of 100), which analyses respect for human rights, decent work and ethics among a total of 2,000 companies.
The RDR assesses companies in three areas: governance, freedom of expression and privacy. In this edition, Telefónica stands out as leader in two of these areas: the broad scope of its human rights impact assessments and its commitments to the use and development of Artificial Intelligence, going beyond the mere publication of AI principles and a corresponding governance model.
In terms of DIB, WBA analyses six areas of action to be taken into account to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital revolution. Telefónica stands out with a score of 94.4 out of 100 in the access indicator, and WBA highly values Telefónica‘s efforts to promote access to technology for the unconnected, particularly people with disabilities, through accessible digital solutions. In addition, its commitment, largely through the Telefónica Foundation, to promoting digital skills and employability through programmes such as Reconectados and 42 has been a significant factor. Other aspects that are highlighted positively are the company’s efforts in security, privacy and the responsible use of technology by minors, as well as its support for open innovation programmes and its commitment to responsible ethical artificial intelligence.
In the Social Benchmark, Telefónica stands out for its ethical commitment to zero tolerance for corruption, as well as its policies in favour of human rights.
