Privacy and freedom of expression issues focus of shareholders meeting

TeliaSonera implements additional measures to improve its work regarding privacy and freedom of expression issues. In connection with a shareholders meeting on Thursday CEO and President Lars Nyberg presents a host of new measures to further highlight these issues at Group level.

– The criticism directed at TeliaSonera related to violations of human rights has affected me deeply and I have given it a lot of thought during the summer. By continuing to develop our change progamme I want to show that we take this issue very seriously and want to be leading in this field.

One of the changes is that Group management will evaluate the authority’s request to implement restrictions or any other major actions in TeliaSonera’s network.

The first action at Group level will be to ensure that decisions we take truly are in line with laws and regulations. Should this not be the case, then we can take a number of actions; such as appeal the decision, engage in dialogue with the local authorities or use diplomatic channels to question the decision.

Group management is aware that even when local legislation is adhered to there might be an obvious risk that the requested action is in conflict with human rights.

– Then more than ever it is crucial, that it is Group management who takes responsibility, says Lars Nyberg.

– There are two obvious advantages with this new way of working. Firstly, it decreases the risk of local pressure on our employees in the countries, and secondly, of equal importance is that this change will regularly remind us at management to actually pursue these issues.

In order to bring about a step change we have to work together. Legislation for mobile operators is the same for all players. Together with eleven of the world’s leading telecom companies, we are working closely to address these questions within our sector’s Industry Dialogue initiative, to navigate our way through these difficult and complex questions.

In parallel to these changes, TeliaSonera has also started a partnership with the Danish Institute for Human Rights. Goal of the cooperation will be to carry out a human rights impact assessment, country by country.

This analysis will be presented to the Board and a summary will be included in our annual sustainability report.

It is critical that this happens together with the Industry Dialogue in order to bring about a step change.

More information regarding TeliaSonera’s Corporate Responsibility’s action programme, today’s shareholders meeting presentation and Lars Nyberg’s comments to the media can be found here TeliaSonera.com/newsroom.

For more information, please call the TeliaSonera press office 46-771 77 58 30, press@teliasonera.com or visit our Newsroom.

TeliaSonera provides network access and telecommunication services in the Nordic and Baltic countries, the emerging markets of Eurasia, including Russia and Turkey, and in Spain. TeliaSonera helps people and companies communicate in an easy, efficient and environmentally friendly way. Our ambition is to be number one or two in all our markets, providing the best customer experience, high quality networks and cost efficient operations. TeliaSonera is also the leading European wholesale provider with a wholly-owned international carrier network. In 2011, net sales amounted to SEK 104 billion, EBITDA to SEK 36.9 billion and earnings per share to SEK 4.20. The TeliaSonera share is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm and NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Read more at www.teliasonera.com.