The following is an excerpt from the 2019 CSR report.In FY19, Cisco created a new legal function to address human rights issues that arise in our business.

Our world is changing fast. The speed of innovation and the adoption of new technologies
is increasing at an exponential rate. For example, with the growth of 5G, the number of connected devices worldwide will explode. Nearly 29 billion networked devices in 2022 will swell to 300 billion by 2030. In the same time period, more than 3.5 billion more people will begin using the Internet for the first time.

This evolution presents great opportunities to solve pressing global problems: Improving health. Reducing pollution. Making cities smart. But these same technologies can also cause harm. Unfortunately, advanced data and technology can be used to infringe upon human rights, such as when governments employ technology to surveil or censor individuals.

We