A collective of over 60 Microsoft shareholders has submitted a proposal intended for the upcoming Annual General Meeting, urging the firm to release a comprehensive report on its practices regarding human rights due diligence in light of accusations related to its involvement in international conflicts.

Key Points:

• The resolution aims to evaluate how Microsoft handles potential misuse of its AI and cloud technology that may breach human rights or humanitarian laws.
• Many shareholders and critics argue that Microsoft’s processes on human rights fail to address significant risks posed by their products used in recent military actions.
• The statement from Microsoft asserts they have conducted an internal review yet lacks detailed transparency on their processes.

Notable Quotes:

“Microsoft states it conducts ongoing HRDD across its value chain.”

• Translation: Microsoft claims to continuously undertake Human Rights Due Diligence across its distribution chain.

The shareholders represent investments exceeding $80 million, reflecting increasing frustrations over Microsoft’s accountability and ethical standards in operations. This motion represents a significant escalation in shareholder activism, echoing growing corporate scrutiny for their roles in global humanitarian issues.