An OpenSecrets profile reveals that SAP SE engaged in significant political activities during the 2024 cycle, including $488,277 in contributions and $2,720,000 spent on lobbying. Furthermore, the revolving door phenomenon—with 33 out of 43 lobbyists in 2023 and 32 out of 47 in 2024 having held government positions—raises serious concerns about the company's potential to unduly influence political processes in ways that bolster authoritarian policies.

SAP SE, through CFO Dominik Asam, publicly declared their opposition to the rise of far-right politics in Europe, emphasizing the company's commitment to an open society and global trade values during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

In 2024, SAP SE spent $2,720,000 on lobbying activities, highlighting significant corporate efforts to sway U.S. policymaking. From an anti-fascist perspective, this use of corporate resources to influence political processes contributes to an environment that can facilitate authoritarian practices.

SAP SE has showcased significant progress in upholding human rights within its operations, supply chain, and AI ethics practices. During Human Rights Day, SAP detailed improvements in non-discrimination measures, enhanced supplier accountability through its Supplier Code of Conduct, and updated its Global AI Ethics policy along with mandatory training for responsible AI use.

LobbyFacts data reveals that SAP has held 48 meetings with high-level EU commissioners and officials from December 2014 to December 2024, including duplicate entries noted on 1 July 2024. These intensive lobbying efforts raise concerns regarding the company's influence on public policy and democratic accountability.

SAP SE was penalized for engaging in bribery schemes, paying over $220 million to resolve FCPA investigations related to corrupt practices in South Africa and Indonesia. This event highlights significant ethical and political failures that undermine democratic processes and fair business practices.

SAP SE has been charged by the SEC for engaging in bribery as part of FCPA violations across several countries, undermining ethical business practices and political integrity.

SAP GTS Compliance provides a robust solution to prevent forced labor by screening supply chain partners against updated sanctions lists, ensuring ethical sourcing and adherence to international labor laws.

In response to the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, SAP strengthened its human rights and supply chain practices by appointing a Human Rights Officer, addressing wage issues in Brazil, and implementing rigorous supplier risk assessments to mitigate human rights violations. These measures underline SAP's commitment to ethical labor practices and supply chain transparency.

The U.S. government has launched an investigation into SAP SE amid allegations that the firm, along with its reseller Carahsoft, engaged in price-fixing schemes on government contracts. Coupled with its recent history of a $200M bribery settlement, these claims raise severe concerns about SAP's adherence to ethical business practices.

EU and German authorities are investigating SAP over claims that the company is abusing its dominant market position through bundling, excessive licensing fees, and customer lock-in strategies. Critics argue that SAP’s close political connections may facilitate regulatory capture, thus harming competition and protecting unethical business practices.

SAP has released a public statement committing to respect and advance human rights across its business operations, extended value chain, and product lifecycle. The document outlines the company’s human rights governance, risk management measures, and expectations placed on employees and suppliers.

Between January 2010 and September 2017, SAP admitted to willfully exporting its U.S.-origin software products to Iranian entities without proper licensing. This violation of U.S. export control laws not only undermined the intent of economic sanctions against Iran but also exposed significant lapses in SAP's internal compliance mechanisms. Despite later cooperation with U.S. authorities leading to a non-prosecution agreement, the incident raises serious concerns about the company's commitment to ethical business practices and adherence to international sanctions.