Library | ESG issues

Technology & Online Harm

Technology & online harm refers to the risks and challenges linked to existing and emerging digital technologies such as AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies. While these innovations can enhance efficiency and productivity, they also introduce risks like fraud, misinformation, regulatory uncertainty, and ethical dilemmas, requiring careful oversight and responsible adoption.

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Update: Tech firms’ responses to our call for action to protect children

Office of Communications (Ofcom)
This report assesses tech firms' responses to regulatory demands for improved online child safety. Despite new duties, children remain exposed to harmful content via personalised feeds. While some platforms committed to enhanced age assurance and grooming protections, further action is required to enforce minimum age policies effectively.
Research
21 May 2026

Digitalisation and innovation: Opportunities and risks for financial health

Bank for International Settlements
This report examines the impact of digital innovation on financial health. It outlines opportunities in payments, credit, savings, and insurance, whilst highlighting emerging risks such as fraud, overindebtedness, and ill-suited investments. The authors propose policy responses to enhance regulatory frameworks and promote responsible digitalisation in financial services.
Research
28 April 2026

Frontier AI auditing: Toward rigorous third-party assessment of safety and security practices at leading AI companies

This report proposes a rigorous framework for third-party auditing of frontier AI systems to verify safety and security claims. Addressing the opacity of current self-assessments, it advocates for structured AI Assurance Levels, deep access to non-public information, and continuous monitoring to enable confident deployment and standardisation across the industry.
Research
7 February 2026

Acceleration is not a strategy: A framework for directing AI towards public value before it's too late

Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR)
This report outlines a framework for European governments to steer artificial intelligence towards public value rather than just accelerating sector growth. It recommends implementing AI directionism by targeting high-impact uses, preparing priority sectors for adoption, curbing big tech monopolies, and ensuring the economic benefits are broadly shared.
Research
15 April 2026

AI-driven intrusive surveillance and loss of autonomy at work linked to psychosocial risks for employees

International Labour Organisation (ILO)
ILO research finds AI-driven workplace surveillance and reduced employee autonomy may heighten psychosocial risks, including stress, privacy concerns and work intensification. The paper highlights gaps in occupational safety frameworks and calls for integrated regulation covering labour rights, data protection and mental wellbeing.
Research
30 April 2026

AI in your portfolio: Risks & opportunities

Intentional Endowments Network
Briefing paper outlining AI investment opportunities alongside systemic risks including bias, privacy, workforce disruption and environmental impacts. It highlights governance frameworks, due diligence tools and investor engagement strategies to support responsible AI investment practices and long-term portfolio resilience.
Research
21 April 2026

AI search has a citation problem

Columbia Journalism Review (CJR)
The report evaluates eight generative AI search tools and finds widespread problems in accurately citing news sources. Many systems fabricate or misattribute links, ignore publisher restrictions and provide confident but incorrect answers, raising concerns about information reliability, publisher traffic loss and the transparency of AI-generated search results.
Research
6 March 2025

Columbia Journalism Review (CJR)

Specialist News Services
Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) is a media analysis and journalism review publication produced by Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Founded in 1961, CJR examines news industry trends, press freedom, and media ethics, providing reporting, commentary, and criticism to help journalists and media professionals understand developments shaping global journalism.
Organisation
1 research item

Mental state of the world report series

Sapien Labs
This benchmark series examines global trends in mind health using data from the Global Mind Project. It assesses people’s capacity to navigate life’s challenges and function productively using the Mind Health Quotient (MHQ), analysing generational, geographic, and societal factors influencing mental wellbeing across the internet-enabled global population.
Benchmark/series
24 February 2026

Sustainable Finance Roundup February 2026: Disclosure, Carbon Trade, and Transition Economics

This month’s sustainability roundup traces a rapidly evolving landscape in climate governance and industrial transition, highlighting the convergence of ISSB-aligned disclosure standards and emerging carbon trade measures alongside shifting cost curves in transport and critical minerals. It underscores how tighter emissions accounting and border policies are embedding carbon competitiveness into capital allocation, while advances in electrification, AI-driven power demand and expanding legal accountability are integrating climate and nature risk into mainstream financial decision-making.
Article
3 March 2026

The twin transition century

The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities
This paper argues that Europe’s green transition depends on aligning digital transformation with sustainability goals. It outlines how digital research can both reduce its own environmental footprint and enable climate action, calling for long-term, interdisciplinary research investment and coordinated EU policy.
Research
18 September 2023

Engaging the ICT sector on human rights series

Investor Alliance for Human Rights
This is a series of sector-wide risk assessment briefings for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector. It examines salient human rights issues linked to ICT business models and technologies, providing a consistent analytical framework to support investor assessment, engagement, and governance analysis across multiple thematic areas.
Benchmark/series
1 June 2022

Salient Issue Briefing: Artificial intelligence based technologies

Investor Alliance for Human Rights
This briefing examines human rights risks from AI-based technologies in the ICT sector, outlines business, legal, and financial implications, and provides investor-oriented guidance grounded in international standards to support rights-respecting AI development, deployment, and oversight.
Research
9 April 2025

Responsible investing in defence, security and resilience

NATO Innovation Fund (NIF)
The NATO Innovation Fund advocates removing financial exclusions on defence to bolster European security. The report recommends reforming procurement for rapid dual-use technology adoption and implementing a ‘Responsible Use Framework’ to ensure ethical development of emerging capabilities like AI and autonomous systems.
Research
21 January 2025

The use of the Lavender in Gaza and the law of targeting: AI-decision support systems and facial recognition technology

The report analyses Israel’s alleged use of the ‘Lavender’ AI decision-support system and facial recognition in Gaza, assessing compliance with international humanitarian law. It highlights risks from inaccuracy, bias, automation and opacity, concluding that commanders must retain judgement and verification to meet targeting obligations.
Research
23 May 2025

Preparing for next-generation information warfare with generative AI

Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI)
The report analyses how generative AI reshapes information warfare by enabling scalable manipulation, behavioural influence and dual-use knowledge diffusion. It highlights heightened risks to civilians, military operations and international law, stressing gaps in protection and the need for anticipatory, whole-of-society resilience strategies.
Research
10 December 2024
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