Connecting with Nokia
23-09-2010 | One example of our monitoring activities is our engagement with Nokia regarding human rights. In 2008, a subsidiary of Nokia sold mobile phone network technology to the Iranian government. Triodos Sustainability Research actively monitors companies that are selected for the Triodos sustainable investment universe. When there is a potential violation of Triodos minimum standards, we investigate in depth and often enter into dialogue with the company in question. This can, and sometimes does, result in companies being excluded from our universe. In the case of Nokia, the outcome of our engagement was in favour of the company.
What is the story?
In the aftermath of the Iranian presidential elections in June 2009, political dissidents were traced and subsequently arrested by using Nokia’s mobile phone technology. This technology was sold to the Iranian government by Nokia Siemens Network (NSN), a 50%-owned subsidiary of Nokia. At the end of 2009 and the beginning of 2010, we engaged with Nokia and sought to understand how aware the company is of the potential risk of human rights abuses by producing and selling this technology. The technology in question, known as ‘lawful intercept’, allows authorities to monitor communications across networks, including calls, text messaging and instant messages. The technology has a legitimate purpose and is used in many countries to combat terrorism, child pornography, drug trafficking and other criminal activities. Telecommunication networks in EU member states and the US are even legally required to have the technology.
What Nokia told us
Nokia informed us that it ‘strongly believes mobile technology should be made available to everyone in the world, to give them a voice and keep them connected to what matters to them’. They also claim that without mobile phone technology, the rest of the world would be less aware of the political unrest in Iran. Nokia takes ethical issues, including human rights, into consideration when deciding to do business in certain countries. According to the company, only predefined phone numbers can have their communications monitored and it is not possible to scan network traffic with NSN supplied technology. Nokia does not condone any abuse of the technology or its use in contravention with international standards and laws. In March 2009, NSN sold Intelligence Solutions, the business that manufactures the lawful intercept technology. The company does not provide support or services to the facility in Iran and has no employees working with Iranian law enforcement. NSN itself has been transparent on the issue. On its own website it published a blog with many critical comments posted by the public. Furthermore, in June 2010 an NSN spokesperson told an EU human rights hearing that it regretted supplying the technology to the Iranian government.
Our conclusion
Nokia has strong human rights policies. It conducts human rights impact assessments and social risk assessments which include aspects such as security and freedom prior to sales to governments. Despite the human rights violations inflicted by Iranian authorities through misuse of the product, we believe that Nokia acted in a responsible and transparent way. Besides, the company’s products provide a gateway for communication which overall improves social and economic participation. We concluded that Nokia’s behaviour is in line with Triodos minimum standards on human rights and the company is kept in the Triodos sustainable investment universe.
Want to know more?
Triodos SRI Strategy
Selection process
List of eligible companies
Note: The issues explored in this article are specifically relevant for sustainable investments on the stock market. Triodos Bank believes that our socially responsible investments are a powerful means of promoting our values and working for greater sustainability, while enabling us to offer a complete range of attractive investment options to customers who choose to invest on the stock market.