WordPress

California
Website Hosting

Risk Level:

Rating - Caution
Medium Risk

Summary:

WordPress, a web-hosting and site-building software, is a subsidiary of Automattic. WordPress has deleted blog posts for "deadnaming" individuals. WordPress has not used its corporate reputation or resources to support ideological groups. For these reasons, WordPress receives a "Medium 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 2018, WordPress removed a blog that “published the former name” of someone and thus violated its privacy policy saying, “According to our Privacy Policy, the malicious publication of private details related to gender identity includes publishing former names.” (1). The company has updated its terms of service, but WordPress reserves the right to terminate contracts if its terms of service are violated (2). Its guidelines state: “WordPress.com strongly believes in freedom of speech. We have a vast audience spread across many cultures, countries and backgrounds with varying values and our service is designed to let users freely express any ideas and opinions without us censoring or endorsing them. That being said, there are a few categories of content and behavior that we don’t permit because we consider them harmful to the community.”

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

WordPress does not have a charitable giving program at this time (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

WordPress does not publish an employee nondiscrimination policy aside from its Privacy policy (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

There are no publicly known cases of WordPress using its corporate reputation to advance ideological agendas (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
Rationale

WordPress does not use corporate dollars to support ideological groups  hostile to freedom of expression (1).

Criteria

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

Risk Level
N/A
Rationale

WordPress does not have a PAC.

All links were last accessed and all information was updated on:
March 24, 2023

Company reports are intended for educational use only. Full Disclaimer

Generate Reports
Clear
Toast