SAN FRANCISCO - Amazon shareholders on Wednesday turned back a series of proposals put forth by critics at the company's annual meeting aimed at creating new social responsibility goals for the tech giant.
The dissident proposals included one to create an independent chair to oversee chief executive Jeff Bezos. Losing proposals also targeted food waste, racism, environmental justice, and sales of technology such as facial recognition software that could be used to violate civil rights. The pressure has led to walkouts at some Amazon facilities and brought out more calls for Amazon to step up efforts for workplace safety - even as the company has touted dozens of new incitatives.Amazon defended its corporate responsibility efforts in a document provided to shareholders.