Bowyer Research, on behalf of Alliance Defending Freedom, has submitted a shareholder proposal titled 'Respect Civil Liberties in Digital Services' to Salesforce, Inc. The proposal calls for an evaluation of Salesforce's potential discrimination against customers based on religious or political views and the associated risks to the company. The submission highlights concerns over digital service providers' use of vague and subjective 'hate speech' and 'misinformation' policies, which may lead to deplatforming and censorship. These policies are seen as a threat to free speech and are legally suspect under state public accommodation laws. The proposal argues that such practices pose significant financial, legal, and reputational risks to companies and their shareholders. It cites examples of other companies that have faced...Show More

Bowyer Research, on behalf of Alliance Defending Freedom, has submitted a shareholder proposal titled 'Respect Civil Liberties in Digital Services' to Salesforce, Inc. The proposal calls for an evaluation of Salesforce's potential discrimination against customers based on religious or political views and the associated risks to the company. The submission highlights concerns over digital service providers' use of vague and subjective 'hate speech' and 'misinformation' policies, which may lead to deplatforming and censorship. These policies are seen as a threat to free speech and are legally suspect under state public accommodation laws. The proposal argues that such practices pose significant financial, legal, and reputational risks to companies and their shareholders. It cites examples of other companies that have faced backlash and financial repercussions due to political activism or viewpoint-based censorship. The proposal suggests that Salesforce conduct a report to assess these risks and ensure that the company's policies do not discriminate based on viewpoints. The submission emphasizes the importance of transparency and accountability in corporate policies and practices related to civil liberties.