Consultation with the U.S. DoS: Guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence for Tech Investments

BSR Members Only

Webinar

June 24, 2024

9:30 - 10:30 am PDT

As a part of the National Action Plan for Responsible Business Conduct, the U.S. Government committed to developing a guide for investors on human rights due diligence when considering investments in technologies that could cause, contribute to, or be linked to human rights abuses. The purpose of the guide is to encourage investors to consider how they might be able to influence the tech sector to drive democracy-enhancing technologies that protect national security and human rights, and to influence businesses to mitigate the risks to people and human rights of technologies, including when they are misused.

As part of the process of drafting this guide, the U.S. Department of State is seeking input from investors and technology companies to understand how investors can use their leverage throughout the tech investment life cycle to encourage a human rights-oriented business culture. This will be an exploratory, interactive discussion. To share insights and expertise please join our members-only webinar: Consultation with the U.S. DoS: Guidance on Human Rights Due Diligence for Tech Investments. We seek your input on the following themes:

Human rights risks in tech: We will explore technologies that can create heightened risks, either inherently or when misused. Examples may include AI and machine learning, data-driven technologies, and surveillance technologies such as facial recognition, biometric collection, and commercial spyware.
The evolving landscape: We will briefly describe the changing policy environment that encourages, and in some jurisdictions mandates, human rights due diligence. The focus will be on the U.S. policy environment to encourage the development and deployment of rights-respecting technologies. We would also like to highlight the voluntary initiatives among investors and approaches of other stakeholders to drive responsible business conduct and welcome your views on the impact of these efforts.
Influence in the investment lifecycle: We will explore concrete actions investors can take at different stages of the investment lifecycle to influence business culture, operations, and technology design. Recommendations will reflect the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

We will facilitate an exploratory, interactive discussion and Q&A. All attendees are encouraged to participate.

Scheduled Speakers

Lynn Sicade, Director of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor’s Office of Multilateral and Global Affairs, U.S. Department of State

Hannah Darnton, Director, Technology and Human Rights, BSR

Director, Technology and Human Rights, BSR

San Francisco

Hannah works with companies that develop and deploy technology to integrate human rights-based approaches into their policies, products, and strategies. She specializes in conducting human rights due diligence on emerging technologies, such as generative AI, affective tech, facial recognition, and surveillance, and in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to children in digital environments.

She has worked extensively with companies to prepare for and comply with human rights-related regulatory requirements in alignment with the OECD Guidelines and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. This includes conducting and reviewing risk assessments under the EU Digital Services Act and the UK's Online Safety Act, as well as preparing for forthcoming obligations under the EU AI Act, CSDDD, and CSRD.

Prior to joining BSR, Hannah worked at the Skoll Foundation and spent several years working in anti-human trafficking.

Hannah holds a Master’s in NGOs and Development with a specialization in Human Rights from the London School of Economics and a B.A. in Political Science and French from the University of Michigan.

Recent Insights From Hannah Darnton

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Kindra Mohr, Associate Director, Financial Services and Human Rights, BSR

Associate Director, Financial Services and Human Rights, BSR

New York

Bringing her expertise as a business and human rights attorney, Kindra leads BSR's work at the intersection of finance and human rights.

Kindra has nearly 15 years of experience in advancing human rights, social and environmental sustainability, and access to remedy within the financial sector. She advises financial institutions and their corporate clients and investees on innovative solutions to prevent and address human rights risks and impacts on the ground, including through stakeholder engagement and the development of grievance mechanisms.

Previously, Kindra consulted for the International Finance Corporation and worked with clients at PwC to integrate best practices into their corporate governance frameworks. She also worked for the US Senate and served for five years as the Policy Director for a global nonprofit, advocating with communities for environmental and social protections and access to remedy in international finance. In addition, Kindra has lived and worked for nonprofits in Argentina, Haiti, and Peru on access to justice and corporate accountability.

Kindra obtained her law degree at Boston College and holds a MA in International Economics and International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Recent Insights From Kindra Mohr

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