A/HRC/44/56 78. While noting that certain Governments, investors and companies were taking steps to leverage their influence to improve respect for the environment and human rights, gaps remained, particularly in the supply chains of major companies. Participants highlighted the need for companies to take rights-based climate action and to integrate climate considerations into human rights due diligence processes. Participants shared information on good practices and tools, such as the refusal by the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund to finance oil-related projects in favour of renewable energies and the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct, which had a chapter devoted to human rights and the environment.31 D. Technology, modern communication tools and corporate respect for human rights 79. Among the emerging issues addressed at the eighth session of the Forum was the impact of new and disruptive technologies. The High Commissioner recalled the launch of the Business and Human Rights in Technology Project (B-Tech Project), through which OHCHR would seek to provide authoritative guidance and resources to enhance the quality of implementation of the Guiding Principles with respect to a selected number of strategic technology areas. 80. Participants examined how the use of artificial intelligence posed huge challenges in terms of human rights. They flagged the urgent need to better understand and regulate emerging technologies to avoid them having an adverse impact on human rights. They discussed, among other topics, the need to push for ethics and human rights in the computer education curricula, the promotion of dialogue among all stakeholders and the need to guarantee corporate accountability. Participants exchanged information on initiatives such as the Tech against Trafficking coalition, which aimed to combat trafficking through technology.32 81. A session on potential violations of the right to freedom of expression through Internet shutdowns, censorship and taxes on social media underscored the challenges sometimes faced by businesses in respecting both human rights and State legislation. Participants discussed, among other issues, the need for Governments to demonstrate that measures such as Internet shutdowns were consistent with international human rights standards and proposed, for example, post-shutdown audits to inform companies about future protocols and standards of practice. 82. The use of technologies and biometrics in the military and security sectors, and whether such use was consistent with human rights, was discussed, as was the need for human rights to be respected throughout the development of technologies and biometric tools, including to take into account their intended and unintended use and misuse, in order to avoid risks, for example to the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, assembly, nondiscrimination and dignity. The need for more transparency in data collection and use was also discussed. Participants raised concerns about Security Council resolution 2396 (2017), in which States were encouraged to exchange data for counter-terrorism purposes even when they did not have basic data protection policies. 83. Participants discussed the issues raised by automation, analytics and artificial intelligence in modern online advertising campaigns, which in some instances led to the dissemination of fake news, hate speech and fraud and contributed to reinforcing discrimination and inequality. Initiatives such as the Conscious Advertising Network and the Global Alliance for Responsible Media of the World Federation of Advertisers were presented. 31 32 See http://mneguidelines.oecd.org/OECD-Due-Diligence-Guidance-for-Responsible-BusinessConduct.pdf. See www.bsr.org/en/collaboration/groups/tech-against-trafficking. 17