On November 14, The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law hosted a conference at its Washington, D.C. campus focused on the Corporate Social Responsibility of Big Tech. The event gathered leading legal scholars, policymakers, and industry professionals to discuss the wide-ranging impact of technology companies on society.
The conference was jointly presented by the Corporate Responsibility and Compliance (CRC) program, the Law & Technology Institute (LTI), and the Bakhita Initiative. The day featured two keynote speakers, with both morning and luncheon sessions, as well as three engaging panel discussions.
The conference began with keynote remarks from Taylor Black, Director of the Institute for AI & Emerging Technologies at Catholic University and Director of AI & Venture Ecosystems at Microsoft Corporation. Black addressed the vast opportunities and significant challenges presented by artificial intelligence, emphasizing the need for responsible innovation in today’s technology landscape. He reviewed current efforts by Big Tech in this area and considered what more should be done, viewed through the lens of Catholic social teaching.
The first panel, "Big Tech as Facilitator of Exploitation," was moderated by Professor Mary Graw Leary and included Danielle Bianculli Pinter (Chief Legal Officer, NCOSE Law Center), U.S. Ambassador John Cotton Richmond (President, Libertas Council; former Ambassador-at-Large), and Annick Febrey (Co-Founder and Principal, Better Trade Collective). This session explored Big Tech’s role in facilitating exploitation and the urgent need for regulatory and corporate action.
The second panel, "Corporate Responsibility and Ethics in the Era of AI," featured experts such as Charles Duan (Assistant Professor, American University Washington College of Law), Adam Eisgrau (Senior Director – AI, Creativity & Copyright Policy, Chamber of Progress), Paul Lekas (Senior Vice President, Software & Information Industry Association), and Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love (Chair, Department of Politics, Catholic University). Meaghan Pedati, Senior Counsel at Mars, served as moderator. Panelists examined pressing ethical considerations facing corporations as artificial intelligence reshapes the legal and regulatory environment.
During the midday break, the conference welcomed Representative Brandon Guffey of the South Carolina House of Representatives, District 48, and founder of Less Than 3 which aims to raise awareness about teenage suicide and social media. Representative Guffey shared how his advocacy for mental health awareness and online safety has been deeply inspired by his late son Gavin, whose personal story has driven Guffey’s recent legislative efforts to combat sextortion in South Carolina.
The third and final panel, "Sustainability: Risk Management in Light of Changing Expectations," was moderated by John Polanin (Director, CRC Program). Panelists included David Curran (Co-Chair, Sustainability Advisory Practice, Paul, Weiss), Brian Downing (Assistant Professor of Law, University of Mississippi), Erica Lasdon (Program Director, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility), and Kevin Tubbs (retired Chief Ethics, Compliance and Sustainability Officer, Oshkosh Corporation). This session addressed the evolving landscape of environmental and social sustainability, highlighting risk management strategies and emerging opportunities for organizations. The panel concluded with a thoughtful discussion on the long-term sustainability of data centers and their unique impact on low-income communities—bringing attention to both the challenges and the responsibility for equitable innovation in the digital age.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in substantive and forward-thinking discussions about modern slavery, artificial intelligence, data protection, and environmental stewardship. The conference demonstrated Catholic Law’s commitment to fostering leadership, ethical decision-making, and innovation at the intersection of law, technology, and social responsibility.
For additional media coverage of the conference, Jonah McKeown from the National Catholic Register covered the first panel presentation of the day in his article, AI and Exploitation: Experts Warn Big Tech Fuels Global Human Trafficking. Kimberley Heatherington from OSV News, in her article Catholic Law Conference Puts Spotlight on Big Tech Ethics in the Era of AI, provided an overview of the entire conference.