Renee Murphy

Let’s be honest: governance doesn’t usually make hearts race. The word alone can drain the excitement out of a meeting faster than a surprise PowerPoint. For years, governance has been typecast as the corporate hall monitor—clipboard in hand, ready to say, “No, you can’t do that.” But in the age of AI, that old stereotype doesn’t work anymore. Governance has gone through its own transformation, like a quiet glow-up. Today, it’s not about slowing innovation down; it’s about keeping it human. In fact, governance has become the new empathy.

In the digital age, brand reputation is more vulnerable than ever. Viral misinformation—false or misleading information rapidly spread via social media, news outlets, or messaging platforms—poses a significant threat to companies of all sizes and industries. Even unintentional misrepresentations can erode consumer trust, trigger regulatory scrutiny, and lead to long-term financial and reputational damage. Brands that fail to monitor, anticipate, and respond to misinformation risk amplified negative impacts. This report examines the mechanisms of viral misinformation, its impact on brand perception, and strategies to protect corporate reputation in 2025 and beyond.

Managing risks across the AI/ML lifecycle is critical for building reliable, secure, and ethical models. From data collection and labeling to training, fine-tuning, and evaluation, each stage presents unique challenges that can affect performance, reproducibility, fairness, and safety. Implementing well-defined controls ensures models are trustworthy, auditable, and resilient to both technical and operational issues. 

Ben & Jerry’s is an activist brand. It operates under a unique mission-driven board configuration that sets it apart from most subsidiaries of large corporations. Although owned by Unilever, the company maintains a semi-independent board specifically tasked with safeguarding its social mission, which includes environmental sustainability, human rights, and ethical business practices. This hybrid governance model combines traditional corporate oversight with dedicated representatives who ensure that Ben & Jerry’s activism and ethical commitments remain central to its decision-making. The board includes independent directors, Unilever representatives, employee voices, and social mission advocates, creating a structure designed to balance profitability with purpose, a rare approach in the corporate world.

Social media crises sparked by negative content, customer complaints, or high-profile scandals can spread almost instantaneously across platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Unlike traditional public relations challenges, these crises escalate at viral speed, reaching millions within hours and leaving little time for brands to respond.

Political events beyond a company’s control—such as sudden regime changes, civil unrest, or expropriation—can pose serious financial threats, impacting revenues, assets, operations, and contractual obligations. Political risk insurance exists to shield businesses from exactly these uncertainties. By transferring the potential economic fallout to an insurer, companies safeguard themselves against the full brunt of a crisis, preserving financial stability even when unforeseeable disruptions occur.

Ben & Jerry’s is an activist brand. It operates under a unique mission-driven board configuration that sets it apart from most subsidiaries of large corporations. Although owned by Unilever, the company maintains a semi-independent board specifically tasked with safeguarding its social mission, which includes environmental sustainability, human rights, and ethical business practices. This hybrid governance model combines traditional corporate oversight with dedicated representatives who ensure that Ben & Jerry’s activism and ethical commitments remain central to its decision-making. The board includes independent directors, Unilever representatives, employee voices, and social mission advocates, creating a structure designed to balance profitability with purpose, a rare approach in the corporate world.