GRI describes its protocol on society as follows:
The social impacts of organizations are also linked to interactions with market structures and social institutions that establish the social environment within which stakeholder groups interact. These interactions, as well as the organization's approach to dealing with social groups such as communities, represent an important component of sustainability performance. The Society Performance Indicators therefore focus on the impacts organizations have on the communities in which they operate, and how the organization's interactions with other social institutions are managed and mediated. In particular, information is sought on bribery and corruption, involvement in public policy-making, monopoly practices, and compliance with laws and regulations other than labour and environmental."