OkCBP

Managing human
rights challenges
Many fundamental human rights –
such as the right to health, education,
freedom of assembly and
freedom of expression – are
enabled through ICT. At the same
time, the Networked Society can
also give rise to specific human
rights challenges. Recognizing
both the opportunities and the
challenges, Ericsson is working
actively to address human rights.
Spotlight on most salient issues
The new UN Guiding Principles (UNGP)
on Business and Human Rights Reporting
Framework states that a company’s salient
human rights issues are those human
rights that are at risk of the most negative
impact through the company’s activities
or business relationships. Ericsson has
defined our salient human rights issues.
These are the right of freedom of expression,
the right to privacy, and labor rights.
These are highlighted in the Code of Business
Ethics and Code of Conduct. We
identify these issues from various input:
our own assessment of impacts, external
stakeholder views resulting from Human
Rights Impact Assessments in higher-risk
environments (p.14), broader stakeholder
consultations and industry initiatives. We
may identify other human rights issues to
be salient over time.
Growing stakeholder concerns point to
the need for more transparency, constructive
discussion and clear guidance on
good corporate conduct and due diligence
on human rights and appropriate limits of
government control over communication
services. More clarity is needed on expectations
and responsibility of companies,
and what constitutes effective oversight of
laws governing interception and surveillance
of data to preserve public safety and
national security interests (referred to as
lawful interception). We held and engaged
in several stakeholder consultations during
2014 to address these issues (p.14).
Rising societal concerns
Technology is used by governments to
fight crime and to assist in life-saving
We engage in stakeholder dialogue in Myanmar, a country undergoing rapid change.
emergencies. Despite the benefits, in
some cases it can also be misused to
restrict human rights, and can infringe
on an individual’s right to privacy.
Concern around surveillance, mining of
personal data and cyber-attacks is rising.
It is essential that the right to privacy is
protected so that users and their data
are secure and rights are protected.
Ericsson works to ensure appropriate levels
of security in our products, and a range
of tools are deployed to ensure security
solutions and safeguarding of network
operations. This is outlined in the Ericsson
white paper, “Guiding Principles for Security
in a Networked Society.”
12 Ericsson | Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility Report 2014