Snap Inc.

Risk Level:

High Risk

Summary:

Snap Inc. (Snapchat) terminated the account of former President Trump due to allegations of inciting "racial violence." The company uses corporate dollars to support internal LGBTQ "Pride" media programs and Black Lives Matter (BLM). Snap mandates all new employees attend unconscious bias trainings but does not have viewpoint protections for its employees. For these reasons, Snap Inc. 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

Snap Inc. canceled former President Trump’s account. Snap Inc’s CEO stated that Snapchat “simply cannot promote accounts in America that are liked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform” (1). Snap Inc. has pledged to vet vendors based on LGBTQ policies (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

The Snap Foundation’s mission is “to develop pathways to the creative economy for underrepresented youth in Los Angeles” (1). Snap Inc. does not discriminate against religious organizations in its charitable giving (2)(3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Snap Inc. does not protect its employees against 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

Snap Inc. puts all new employees through unconscious bias training (1). Snap Inc. supports the LGBTQ movement through the SnapPride media program (2).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Through the Pride Month Spotlight Challenge, Snap Inc. will grant $10,000 in prizes to creators “who can best express their Pride preparation process” (1). Snap also pledged to donate funds to racial equity in support of BLM (2). Snap will provide up to $10,000 for a “worker or family member” seeking travel for an abortion (3).

Criteria

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

Risk Level

Rationale

Snap Inc. does not have a PAC, though it encourages employees to participate in the political process with their resources (1)(2).

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