Telenor places third among telcos on 2020 Ranking Digital Rights Corporate Accountability Index  

Announcement
3 minute read
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The index, which ranks companies across Governance, Freedom of Expression and Privacy, sees Telenor advances one place in the rankings since the company’s inaugural inclusion in 2019.

The RDR Corporate Accountability index cites Telenor as being “more transparent than all of its peers about its process for responding to government demands to shut down network.” The report also points to changes since Telenor’s inaugural listing, among them further disclosure as to user information retention, as well as additional systems in place to limit employee access to user information. 

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While the RDR commends Telenor for its transparency concerning authority requests, it adds that improvements can be made in providing “information about the nature and volume of government demands it receives to block content.” 

Companies failing in practice 

Key findings from the overall report found that companies were improving in principle, yet failing in practice, citing particular issues around transparency and accountability.

“As an active and engaged participant in the societies where it operates, Telenor welcomes discussion and debate on all topics pertaining to digital and human rights. The work done by the RDR in keeping not only telcos but the tech industry to account in this area is increasingly vital in a rapidly digitalising society, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic which demonstrably increased time spent time spent online and use of digital services”, says Cecilie Heuch, Telenor Group’s EVP and Chief People and Sustainability Officer.

Complex situations

Telenor is currently facing complex dilemmas in Myanmar within the context of the recent state of emergency declared by military leadership. While this report covers 2020, it highlights challenges to Telenor and its peers that are made all the more urgent in circumstances such as those which are occurring in Myanmar. Telenor’s ambition is to be as open and transparent about the situation in Myanmar as possible; for more information, see the below links: