Shopify

Payment Processing, Retailing, Website Hosting

Risk Level:

Rating - Danger
High Risk

Summary:

Shopify has not used its reputation or corporate dollars to advance ideological causes. However, the company banned the free speech social media network Gab from its services and has refused to do business with firearm manufacturers. Shopify does not have viewpoint protections for its employees. For these reasons, Shopify receives a "High Risk" rating.

Criteria
Risk Level
Rationale
Corporate Weaponization
Criteria

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.

Risk Level
Rationale

In 2017, Shopify refused to remove the conservative news site Breitbart, from its platform due to CEO Tobi Lutke’s decision to protect “free speech” (1). However, the company later contradicted the decision, banning the free-speech-based social network Gab from its service in 2018 (2). Around the same time in 2018, Shopify banned most firearm manufacturers and dealers from using its platform (3). However, Shopify allows Planned Parenthood to maintain its shop on the site (4).

Criteria

Charitable giving (including employee matching programs) policies or practices discriminate against charitable organizations based on views or religious beliefs.

Risk Level
Rationale

Shopify does not have a donation matching program. Shopify allows customers and stores using its service to donate through rounding and independent matching, respectively, and these programs do not exclude religious organizations (1)(2).

Criteria

Employment policies fail to protect against discrimination based on political affiliation/views and/or religion.

Risk Level
Rationale

The Shopify Code of Conduct does not protect employees from viewpoint discrimination (1).

Corporate Governance and Public Policy
Criteria

Uses corporate reputation to support ideological causes and/or organizations hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Shopify has not corporately endorsed any ideological causes.

Criteria

Uses corporate funds to advance ideological causes, organizations, or policies hostile to freedom of expression.

Risk Level
Rationale

Shopify has not corporately supported ideological organizations hostile to freedom of expression (1)(2).

Criteria

Uses corporate political contributions for ideological, non-business purposes.

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

Shopify does not have a PAC.

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
December 23, 2022

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

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