A shareholder resolution calling for Thomson Reuters to review human rights implications of its work with U.S. immigration authorities received only about 3% support at the firm's annual meeting. The company opposed the proposal.
The vote highlights the ongoing tension between corporate operations and human rights advocacy, particularly concerning government contracts related to immigration policy.
Thomson Reuters shareholders voted on a resolution calling for a review of the human rights implications of the company's work with U.S. immigration authorities. The proposal, put forward by a British Columbia government workers union, garnered only about 3% support at the firm's annual meeting. Thomson Reuters had opposed the measure, with chairman David Thomson stating that over 95% of shareholders voted against it. The company's spokesperson expressed satisfaction with the outcome, viewing it as a reflection of shareholder confidence in the board's recommendation. The resolution specifically targeted products and services sold to law enforcement, which critics argue assist the Trump administration's immigration policies. One cited contract involved providing license plate reader data to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for $22.8 million. Thomson Reuters Special Services (TRSS), a unit of the company, provides various data analysis and risk mitigation products to government agencies. The company maintains that its products are used legally and ethically, with safeguards in place to monitor their application, and that allegations of misuse are baseless. A corporate governance expert suggested the low vote indicated investors were unwilling to confront the administration over immigration policies. Norway's sovereign wealth fund, a major investor, stated it voted against the measure due to a lack of significant gaps in the company's risk management or reporting.
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