Tencent

Tencent showcases its efforts towards increasing digital accessibility through several programmes. For example, Tencent’s Silver Generation Assistant is aimed at enabling the use of mobile technologies for the elderly. Additionally, to assist users with disabilities, Tencent has integrated numerous accessibility features in its core social network product Mobile QQ. It also supports several other initiatives to improve accessibility as well as discloses the number of people with disabilities it employs.

Tencent continues to offer support for the elderly through its Academy for the Aged, which rolls out educational content and holds in-person digital trainings for the elderly population. Furthermore, the company has established the FinTech Mentorship Programme to broaden students’ knowledge and exposure to fintech.

Tencent has a high-level commitment to cybersecurity and it discloses how it monitors and responds to security incidents. In support of child online safety, the company has parental control options, describes mechanisms for reporting online harms and has education initiatives to support children online.

The company demonstrates its commitment to open standards through its membership of international and national standard setting organisations, collaboration with universities, and open source projects. The company also demonstrates support for start-ups. Moreover, the company shows support for social entrepreneurs through its Technology Venture Philanthropy Programme.

While Tencent has initiatives for people with disabilities, it can increase its contribution to digital inclusion by supporting initiatives to increase digital access for other vulnerable or underrepresented groups. Tencent also has an opportunity to promote digital opportunities for women and girls. Similarly, the company can increase transparency by disclosing how the economic value it creates is distributed among its stakeholders, as well as the taxes it pays and its employment it its markets of operation.

Tencent can consider developing initiatives for intermediate digital skills training and school connectivity.

The company can disclose additional details about senior-level oversight of cybersecurity and report the number of data breaches it experiences. The company also has the opportunity to improve its performance by publishing a group privacy policy along with a transparency report. Additionally, it can make a high-level group commitment in support of child online safety.

Tencent can strengthen its support and disclosure of activities relating to sustainable development. In addition, the company has an opportunity to disclose the number of its women employees working in tech roles and the ethical principles it commits to in its research and development (R&D), including its artificial intelligence (AI) activities.

The company does have a grievance mechanism for workers to raise human rights concerns and complaints. However, it is unclear if this mechanism is open to external stakeholders. Additionally, no company policies or commitments related to respect for human rights were found in the public domain. There is no public evidence of Tencent committing to respect the ILO core labour rights, nor does the company disclose a process to identify, assess and mitigate the salient human rights risks associated with its own operations and with its business relationships.

Tencent discloses in its annual report that it has health and safety policies and procedures; however, it does not commit to ensuring workers’ health and safety in a public policy statement. Furthermore, the company lacks disclosure in relation to living wages, working hours and collective bargaining. For example, it does not disclose the proportion of its workforce covered by collective bargaining agreements. In relation to workforce diversity, while the company provides a breakdown of employees in different employee categories by age and gender, it does not disclose this information for any other indicators of diversity. Furthermore, Tencent reveals that it has less than 30% women on its board.  

Tencent discloses its global tax strategy approved by the highest governing body. However, the company does not disclose its income tax payments for all its individual tax jurisdictions.  Tencent does have a policy prohibiting bribery and corruption and includes anti-corruption clauses in its business relationship contracts. Nevertheless, the company lacks disclosure across the board in relation to lobbying and political engagement. It does not disclose its lobbying expenditures or its overarching approach to the topic in a public policy statement.