The Methodology for the 2026 Digital Benchmark

The Digital Benchmark

Technology companies have quickly become some of the most impactful globally. While they have the power to connect billions, they also have the power to exclude, mis- and disinform, track and surveil. Moreover, the lobbying power of large digital technology companies enables substantial influence over public policy. And, thanks to AI, the carbon footprint of many of these companies is also rising. There is a clear need for action to mitigate the negative externalities of some of their activities.

The aim of the Digital Inclusion Benchmark is to foster a trustworthy and inclusive digital transformation that respects human rights. This revised Digital Inclusion Benchmark methodology is used to assess and rank the world’s 200 most influential digital technology companies on their performance and impact across six measurement areas, inspired by the SDGs. Five of these are specific to digital technology companies, namely access, skills, use, innovation and sustainable value creation. The sixth comprises the core social indicators that are measured across all SDG2000 companies.

Using this methodology, the Digital Inclusion Benchmark tracks how digital technology companies are helping to advance a more inclusive digital world and provides an opportunity for companies understand and improve on their shortcomings with respect to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also provides an avenue for the digital sector to form a global community of practice around digital inclusion and to coordinate and harmonise their actions.

The Digital Inclusion Benchmark highlights the need for companies to step up on data protection, cybersecurity, respect for the rights of vulnerable groups, children’s rights in the digital environment, as well as ethical artificial intelligence (AI) – issues that are widely recognised as being key for a positive digital system transformation that accelerates the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Join the conversation

Our Digital benchmark webinar is coming soon. Join us on 22 January 2025 to dive deeper into the methodology of the Digital Inclusion Benchmark. Expect research insights and the chance to ask questions. Two different webinars will allow you to join at the moment that best suits your timezone.