Thomson Reuters Shareholders Demand Investigation into ICE Contracts

On Wednesday, shareholders of Thomson Reuters, led by the B.C. General Employees’ Union (BCGEU), called for an investigation into the company's contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The proposal urges the board to commission an independent human rights impact assessment to evaluate whether Thomson Reuters' products, particularly the CLEAR investigative database, contribute to human rights violations. The CLEAR database contains sensitive personal information, including names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, which can be utilized by law enforcement agencies, including ICE.

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The demand for an assessment follows increasing scrutiny of Thomson Reuters' relationship with ICE and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Internal protests have emerged, with over 200 employees expressing concerns about the ethical implications of the company's data sales to ICE. Notably, the company recently terminated the employment of the individual who spearheaded this protest, leading to a lawsuit.

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The shareholder proposal highlights how Thomson Reuters' data can be integrated with other surveillance technologies, such as the Enhanced Leads Identification & Targeting for Enforcement (ELITE) tool developed by Palantir. This tool is designed to identify potential deportation targets by mapping addresses and providing detailed dossiers, with some data sourced from the CLEAR database. Additionally, the proposal references a November report indicating that Thomson Reuters' data can be combined with license plate reader information from Motorola Solutions, enhancing ICE's investigative capabilities.

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Emma Pullman, head of shareholder engagement for BCGEU, emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, “What is not disclosed cannot be managed, and that is why we are calling for an independent, human rights impact assessment.” She underscored the need for responsible stewardship of capital, particularly in light of the legal risks Thomson Reuters may face due to its data provision to ICE.

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The BCGEU's proposal outlines the potential legal and reputational risks associated with Thomson Reuters' contracts with ICE, citing ongoing lawsuits related to ICE's immigration enforcement practices, which have been criticized for unlawful detentions and due process violations. The proposal also invokes the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which Thomson Reuters claims to endorse, stressing the necessity for companies to conduct due diligence on the impacts of their data usage.

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In response to the shareholder concerns, a Thomson Reuters spokesperson stated that the company has conducted a human rights saliency and impact assessment, which was completed in 2025 with the assistance of an independent consultancy. The spokesperson indicated that key findings from this assessment would be published on the company's website later this year.

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While the BCGEU's proposal calls for a comprehensive assessment of human rights impacts, Thomson Reuters maintains that it has already undertaken such evaluations. This discrepancy raises questions about the adequacy of the company's existing assessments and the transparency of its operations regarding law enforcement contracts.

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• “What is not disclosed cannot be managed, and that is why we are calling for an independent, human rights impact assessment of how Thomson Reuters’ products may contribute to human rights harms, particularly when used by law enforcement, and when the Company’s products are integrated with other surveillance technologies.” — Emma Pullman, Head of Shareholder Engagement, BCGEU

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• “TRI faces compounding legal, reputational, and governance risks.” — BCGEU Proposal

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• “ A Thomson Reuters spokesperson told 404 Media in an email “As outlined in our recent Proxy Circular and Shareholder Proposal, we have completed our second human rights saliency and impact assessment (HRSA/HRIA) covering our global operations, services, and products, including our investigative solutions.” — Thomson Reuters Spokesperson

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