Ericsson

Ericsson faced criticism in Sweden after removing all references to DEI from its 2024 annual report. The word 'DEI' appeared 0 times compared to 40+ times in 2023. Previous initiatives like 42 employee resource groups, gender diversity goals tied to executive compensation, and inclusive leadership training were absent. The company denied Trump administration influence, claiming changes were 'for greater clarity.'

Ericsson donated $500,000 (5.5 million SEK) to Trump's Presidential Inauguration Committee, the company's first-ever inauguration donation. CEO Börje Ekholm stated: 'We have a very large market share in the USA and we must be able to work with whoever sits in the White House.' A spokesperson said it 'underscores our commitment to the U.S.'

Ericsson's second round of greenhouse gas reduction targets was approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) as aligned with the 1.5°C Paris Agreement pathway, publicly announced January 25, 2024. The near-term target commits Ericsson to cutting absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions 50% by FY2030 versus a FY2020 baseline (with Scope 1+2 cut 90%). The long-term target commits to a 90% absolute Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions cut by FY2040, neutralizing the remaining 10% via approved carbon removals to reach net-zero across the value chain by end of FY2040. This follows Ericsson's first round of SBTi-approved targets (2016-2022 period), which the company met and surpassed (e.g., a 35%-target for business travel and downstream transportation emissions was exceeded with a 60% actual reduction).

Ericsson pleaded guilty and paid $206 million for violating the FCPA's anti-bribery provisions, after breaching a 2019 DPA. The original 2019 settlement totaled over $1 billion for bribery in Djibouti, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Kuwait. In 2022, the company admitted it couldn't rule out that bribes paid in Iraq between 2011-2018 ended up with the Islamic State terrorist group.

Following the February 6, 2023 Turkiye-Syria earthquakes, Ericsson's humanitarian volunteer program Ericsson Response deployed as a Standby Partner to the UN Emergency Telecommunications Sector (ETS) operation, active February 6 to May 17, 2023. Ericsson Response personnel were deployed on the ground February 25 to March 9, 2023, enhancing data connectivity at UNDAC coordination sites in Hatay (Feb 26) and Kahramanmaras (Mar 2), and installing 20 mobile-phone charging stations across two displaced-persons settlements (10 units at Sadaka settlement, Hatay, Mar 4; 10 units at Malat settlement, Malatya, Mar 18) to let affected residents recharge devices and contact family. Ericsson also ran a company-matched employee fundraising campaign for earthquake relief in Turkiye and Syria.

Ericsson suspended deliveries to Russian customers in late February 2022, immediately after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On April 11, 2022, the company announced it would suspend its affected business in Russia indefinitely, citing the invasion and EU sanctions. Ericsson recorded a SEK 900 million (~$95 million) provision for impairments and exceptional costs in Q1 2022, and placed approximately 600 Russian employees on paid leave. Ericsson had no manufacturing operations in Russia; its major Russian customers included MTS and Tele2. The move mirrored a broader wave of Western corporate withdrawals from Russia following the invasion (e.g., Nokia's suspension in early March 2022).