Who are the nuns taking on Microsoft?
The tech giant has a new nemesis
Who are the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace?
The Roman Catholic order was founded in 1884 in Nottingham, England byMargaret Anna Cusack, and has a history of promoting social justice as a way to peace.The congregation currently serves in the US, UK, and Haiti.
The sisters are also seasoned shareholder advocates. This year, they’ve zeroed in on Microsoft’s lobbying efforts.
Sister Susan Francois has been the order’s most prominent campaigner.
Theassistant congregation leader was once an election official in Portland, Oregon.In her blog, Sister Susan says the 9/11 terrorist attacks laid the seeds for her “transition from bureaucrat to Gen-X nun.”
“As shareholders, as tech workers, as campaigners for justice, we can and must hold these companies accountable,” she said ina campaign video. “New innovation should support human dignity and a fair and just society, not magnify division and discrimination.”
Sister Susan is also a prolific user of Twitter. In 2018, she wasinterviewed by The New York Timesafter tweeting daily prayers to Donald Trump for more than 650 days.
The beef with Microsoft
As racial justice protests swept across the US last year, Microsoft pledgedto restrict sales of facial recognition tech to police. However, the firm made no mention of other contentious government clients, such as ICE and authoritarian regimes.
The company is also is also attempting to shape the regulations that governs it. Microsoft lobbied hard forfacial recognition laws that were adopted in Washington last year— which is unsurprising, given the bill was sponsored by one of its own employees.
“Despite what it says publicly, Microsoft is spending its $9.5 million annual lobbying budget on fighting a bill that would ban discriminatoryfacial recognition,” said Sister Susan. “In fact, it lobbies states to pass laws that would increase police use of dangerous surveillance tech.”
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace had previously asked Microsoft for a report on how its lobbying aligns with its stated principles,The Hill reported in June. They have now called on the company’s shareholders to hold the firm accountable.
Good luck, sisters. Whatever the vote, you’ve already raised awareness of Microsoft’s facial recognition lobbying — and countered some stereotypes about nuns in the process.
HT:Protocol
Story byThomas Macaulay
Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW. He covers European tech, with a focus on AI, cybersecurity, and government policy.
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