🏷 I’m surrounded by warnings labels to customers – can you guess what my topic is today?
➡️ Downstream due diligence
But not the type that can be solved by placing a warning label on a product. (We wish!)
I’m talking about the kind that requires meaningful, thoughtful action to minimise the risks to people attached to product use once these products have left the company's hands. 🤓
The kind that involves a combination of measures that together create meaningful leverage with customers: policies, contracts, governance, shared standards, ongoing monitoring, etc.
Take the recent example of Anthropic.
🦾 The company has been trying to build leverage with The Pentagon during negotiations by:
- seeking contractual safeguards to restrict certain uses of its AI technology
- embedding use-restrictions in its model policies
In other words, Anthropic is trying to shape how its product is used downstream.
If Anthropic can grapple with these questions in negotiations with The Pentagon, it shows that these conversations are possible – even in complex and high-stakes contexts.
Downstream responsibility is - honestly - very challenging.
I’ve worked with many companies on this, I know.
🤝 Once you've sold a product, what leverage do you still have?
It’s not easy – but it is expected.Here are ten takeaways for any company selling a risky product to a risky customer:
1️⃣ Identify potential misuse risks early
2️⃣ Define acceptable and unacceptable uses
3️⃣ Identify higher-risk customers
4️⃣ Establish strong internal governance for high-risk products
5️⃣ Embed human rights respect into design
6️⃣ Embed human rights respect into contract
7️⃣ Collaborate with peers to set shared expectations and engage with stakeholders
8️⃣ Engage with the broader ecosystem
9️⃣ Be prepared for responsible disengagement
🔟 Be prepared and accept the challenge!
For more detail on each of these, see the link here.
Downstream due diligence is the price to pay for selling products that can well and truly harm people.
🤔 What do you think?
What’s possible? What isn’t in this world of downstream due diligence?
What good examples have you seen work?
