Air pollution from Tata Steel, PFAS emissions from Chemours, labour exploitation by rogue employment agencies and tax avoidance by multinationals. It has long come as no surprise that companies can commit crime. But where 'ordinary' criminals often receive a prison sentence, offences by companies are often followed by only a warning or, at most, a fine. The argument is that negative publicity and reputational damage already punishes companies sufficiently. But is that also true?

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Environmental and human rights organizations are actively conducting naming and shaming campaigns against harmful corporate behavior. By exposing abuses and media attention, they hope not only to damage the reputation of companies, but also to promote more responsible behavior. Companies are also being widely pilloried on social media. For example, influential Western consumers can condemn harmful business behavior in the global south. Recently, however, naming and shaming has also become a tool for conservatives to oppose the “woke” culture within companies. This is how naming and shaming becomes a weapon in a cultural war.

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Prof.dr Judith van Erp, professor of Regulatory Governance (Regulation and Governance) at Utrecht University, is working on a book about the naming and shaming of companies. In the Science Café, she will present insights from her research. Does “naming and shaming” of companies actually lead to reputational damage? Can naming and shaming get out of hand? Should the government do more about naming and shaming? What is our own role as consumers? Van Erp is happy to discuss all these questions with the audience.

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Live music is provided by Dubio and moderator is Almar Otten.

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