Our objectives - the CDR Code
Guidelines make responsible action credible. And concrete measures make it visible. The CDR Code contains guiding principles and objectives that the members of the CDR Initiative have committed to. Measures that contribute to the objectives are reported on.
Principles point the way. The nine principles provide abstract guidance for the objectives in the individual fields of action. They are aimed at decision-makers in business, politics and civil society as well as at consumers. They provide orientation and thereby also support CDR-compliant practices, including in future measures by the companies. A public commitment to them sends a strong signal for corporate digital responsibility.
The 9 principles of the CDR Code
Principle 1: Core social values
We deploy technical systems in such a way that they are consistent with and promote our core social values, such as democracy, freedom, the social market economy and the principle of equal treatment.
Principle 2: Human-centric technology
We put people at the centre of the development and use of technical systems.
Principle 3: Generating benefits
We design our technical systems to deliver added value for consumers. We weigh up the benefits and risks to consumers in using these systems. The benefits to consumers must far outweigh the risks.
Principle 4: Avoiding harm
We design processes and products in such a way that no harm is done to consumers. We ensure that the risks of technical systems remain calculable and manageable from a technical and social perspective.
Principle 5: Autonomy
In the development and implementation of technical systems, we respect the self-determination of consumers.
Principle 6: Fairness
In the development and implementation of technical systems, we strengthen participation in and access to a digitalised world. Consumers are not unfairly discriminated against.
Principle 7: Transparency
We provide open and intelligible information on the basic functions and effects of our technical systems that are aimed directly at consumers.
Principle 8: Responsibility
We ensure that the responsibility for the design and use of our technical systems is ultimately assigned to a clearly designated human officer.
Principle 9: Sustainability
In the context of digitalisation, we aim to contribute to resource-conserving and socially fair development in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Our fields of action – Making CDR tangible
CDR commitments and corporate measures can be structured into fields of action. The CDR Initiative currently distinguishes between five fields of action.
