At Deutsche Telekom we are committed to acting responsibly, in everything that we do. As a global leader in telecommunication solutions, our goal is to contribute positively to the major societal and ecological developments of our age. We understand that universal human rights are a prerequisite for these ambitions.
We respect all the fundamental human rights laid out in the International Bill of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization’s Core Labour Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and ten Principles of the UN Global Compact. We spell out this commitment in our Code of Human Rights and further policies and regulations. We are dedicated to respecting human rights and strive to prevent adverse human rights impacts related to our operations, our suppliers, and our customers at the global or local level.
Our human rights map
Our human rights maps show areas where people could be potentially negatively or positively impacted by our operations and business relationships. It provides orientation for our human rights’ due diligence activities. We acknowledge that human rights focus areas may change as our business evolves and commit to continuously review and amend these topic areas and related human rights due diligence activities.
Our Due Diligence, Overview and Details
We have developed a comprehensive environmental and human rights-related due diligence program in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. Our actions are based on legal requirements such as the German Supply Chain Act, international standards, and also the constant involvement of all our stakeholders, as well as the collaboration between our Group units.
Telekom supports the UN LGBT+ Standards of Conduct for Business
Deutsche Telekom AG supports the United Nations Standards of Conduct for Business to tackle discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex (LGBT+, + Plus sign stands for not excluding anyone ) people. “We are promoting an environment of mutual respect, tolerance and diversity. We stand up for human rights and promote openness and understanding in a digitalized and networked world. I am very pleased that we have adopted the UN's global LGBT+ Standards of Conduct for business,” said Birgit Klesper, Senior Vice President Corporate Responsibility.
Since 2000, Deutsche Telekom AG has been a member of the UN Global Compact, and is expressly committed to the United Nations Guiding Principles for Business and Human Rights. “In joining 240 of the early supporters of the UN Global LGBT+ Standards for Business, Deutsche Telekom is sending a powerful signal to the ICT industry and beyond. As a responsible company, Deutsche Telekom is dedicated to respecting and protecting human rights including those of LGBT+ people.” said Fabrice Houdart, United Nations Human Rights Officer and co-author of the Standards. MagentaPride, the Group's LGBT+ employee network, is proud that Deutsche Telekom expressing its engagement to human rights by drawing the standards of conduct for business - tackling discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi, trans, & intersex people.
Focus area: Corporate Digital Responsibility
Our greatest concern related to our technologies and products are, our customers’ rights to privacy, freedom of expression and online safety. We work hard to ensure that their personal data is handled transparently and responsibly, not compromising the individual’s privacy or safety. Read more on our positions and statement around data protection and consult our data protection status report.
Where we are legally required to share such data with governments, however, we apply a high standard of diligence and transparency as stated in our Transparency Report.
We know that children are a group who are particularly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation online. Through various initiatives and partnerships, we are working towards protecting minors beyond what the law requires from us, raising awareness, building media literacy and providing support to children and their support networks. Read more on our commitment to protection of minors here or on our national child online safety pages.
Our digital responsibility goes beyond the individual customer but also, we apply due diligence in developing and designing new products and technologies, especially such involving AI and IoT (Internet of Things). Our Guidelines for Artificial Intelligence outline the standards we apply to ensure new developments will not infringe on human rights, again with a focus on security and privacy. We are aware that our technologies including such using AI can serve as enablers of human rights globally. We are continuously striving to harness this potential.