Gen Digital
Corprate Bias Ratings
Risk Level:
Summary:
Gen Digital is a multinational cybersecurity software company encompassing several brands, including Norton, formerly Symantec, and LifeLock. Norton canceled its discount program with the NRA in 2018. Norton vets vendors according to LGBTQ policies and does not provide its employees with protections against viewpoint discrimination, but has not publicly terminated business relationships based on views or beliefs. The company covers the cost of "medically necessary transition-related care" for its employees and their children. Norton has supported the Equality Act and regularly uses corporate dollars to support a variety of ideological groups hostile to freedom of expression, such as Black Lives Matter (BLM), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and others. For these reasons, Gen Digital receives a "Medium Risk" rating.
Has denied service to customers, suppliers, or vendors due to their political views or religious beliefs OR corporately boycotts, divests, or sanctions regions, people groups, or industries.
NortonLifeLock received a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) (1). Among other requirements, this means the company has pledged to vet vendors for LGBTQ policies. Gen Digital has not canceled business relationships due to views or beliefs.
Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.
Norton has a donation matching program that focuses on specific missions and has no written rule prohibiting donations to religious organizations (1). As Symantec, the company ended its discount program with the NRA in 2018 (2). Avast does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (3).
Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.
Gen Digital does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).
Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.
Norton has a perfect score on the HRC’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. This score indicates the company covers the cost of “medically necessary transition-related care” for its employees and their children (1)(2). As Symantec (pre-2019), Norton’s leaders “underwrote” a series of web posts about how corporations should retool to be more in accordance with the tenets of the BLM movement (3). Norton has worked with the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation’s (GLAAD) communications department to rebuild Norton’s web filtering software cooperatively (4). Norton has also endorsed events from both GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network on its blogs (5). Norton is a member of the HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act (6). Avast uses its corporate reputation to advance ESG practices through its commitment to the UN’s SDG Goals (7). Avast advances LGBTQ causes through its blog posts and Pride events (8).
Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.
As Symantec (pre-2019), the company granted funds directly to Planned Parenthood (1). In January 2021, Norton ran a “special” 2:1 donation matching campaign that specifically supported BLM, Color of Change, the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and many similar organizations (2). Norton also made a $100,000 grant to the National Urban League (3). Norton is a Bronze sponsor of Out and Equal (4). Avast donated over $60,000 to the ACLU (5). Avast is a fund partner with the Queer Sista Platform (6).
All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
June 9, 2023
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