Vodafone Group Plc — Ethics Grade C-

Vodafone Group Plc receives an overall ethics grade of C- (42/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Telecommunications. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 45
• privacy: 38
• consumer: 55
• environment: 78
• humanRights: 40

Documented incidents (3)

• Tax Avoidance Investigations (medium, 2023) — The company has faced repeated investigations in various jurisdictions regarding complex tax structures and profit shifting to low-tax hubs. Critics argue these practices deprive developing nations of essential infrastructure revenue.
• Law Enforcement Data Access (high, 2020) — Disclosures revealed that government agencies in several countries had direct access to Vodafone's network pipes. This raised significant concerns regarding the mass surveillance of citizens without industrial-grade warrants.
• Massive Job Reductions (medium, 2022) — Unexpected announcements of cutting over 11,000 jobs globally over three years to simplify organization. Labor unions criticized the move as prioritizing shareholder dividends over worker stability.

Documented good deeds

• Renewable Energy Transition — Vodafone successfully transitioned its entire European network to be powered by 100% renewable electricity sources.

Ethical alternatives

• Telenor Group — Demonstrates higher transparency in government request disclosures and stronger ESG reporting.