WSIS Forum 2023: Driving corporate action on digital inclusion: Ranking 200 most influential tech companies

The World Benchmarking Alliance (WBA) will launch the 2023 Digital Inclusion Benchmark assessing a total of 200 of the world’s most influential technology companies’ contributions towards achieving digital inclusion.

The companies have been assessed on four measurement areas; Enhancing universal access to digital technologies; Improving all levels of digital skills; Fostering trustworthy use by mitigating risks and harms; Innovating openly, inclusively, and ethically. For the first time, the benchmark has incorporated into the final scores company performance on human rights issues such as decent work for all and acting ethically.

The 45-minute in-person roundtable session will feature panellists from governments, investors and civil society groups who will explore, share planned coordinated actions and collaboration with multi-stakeholders that can effectively drive action towards achieving digital inclusion.

Context on the benchmark

The Digital Inclusion Benchmark tracks how tech companies are helping to advance a more inclusive digital society. Company commitments, disclosure and performance are evaluated under four measurement areas: access, skills, use, and innovation.
The benchmark is free, published annually and shared with government, investor and civil society stakeholders worldwide, including over 330 Allies. During its first year, 2020, the benchmark assessed 100 of the world’s most influential digital technology companies, such as online platforms, network providers and equipment manufacturers. In 2021, 150 companies were assessed on digital inclusion. During the second iteration, the results showed that whilst many digital companies spent pages citing the benefits and potentials of artificial intelligence (AI), few seemed concerned about the risks. Just 20 out of 150 committed to publicly available principles for ethical AI. This key finding informed the first Digital CIC topic.
Now in its third year, the benchmark scope has increased to 200 companies, and includes all digital technology companies that are part of the SDG2000 – WBA’s list of the 2,000 most influential companies for helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
For more information about the development of the benchmark and how companies were selected, please refer to the methodology, available here.