Shareholder proposal puts a spotlight on AI and human rights risk at Thomson Reuters Corporation (TSX: TRI)
Investor memo argues that transparency, oversight, and accountability in AI governance are critical for the company to ensure the protection of fundamental rights
Ahead of Thomson Reuters Corporation (TSX: TRI) annual meeting of shareholders on June 4, 2025, the BCGEU has released the investor memo regarding the shareholder proposal it filed for consideration. The proposal requests the Company to amend its artificial intelligence (AI) governance framework to align with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and to assess whether its legacy 1941 Trust Principles are sufficient for proactively governing AI-related risks.
As a content-driven technology business, Thomson Reuters has made significant investments in artificial intelligence and genAI. Alongside the benefits, AI introduces the potential for misuse and errors related to data privacy, algorithmic bias and lack of due process and access to remedy, and other human rights concerns.
In response to engagement from BCGEU, Thomson Reuters aligned its approach to human rights due diligence with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in 2022. Investors believe the Company now has an opportunity—and a responsibility—to explicitly extend this alignment to its AI governance framework given the company’s growing exposure to AI-related risks in legal, government, and surveillance domains.
BCGEU encourages investors to vote FOR this proposal to protect long-term value, mitigate risk, and uphold human rights.