Mastercard’s ethical approach to governing AI
Mastercard, the global payments company, is known as a leader in privacy by design; senior leaders promote data responsibility and employees follow strict ethical guidelines and robust frameworks to manage and protect data. The company views AI as a significant part of its strategy going forward, using it to fight fraud, improve the consumer payment experience, increase efficiencies and decrease costs in back-end systems. When Mastercard created its AI Garage in 2018, its vision was to become an AI powerhouse. Realizing the special attention AI development efforts need, several leaders in the organization co-created the AI Governance Council and a framework to structure the company’s approach to governing AI. The application of this framework led to several significant decisions, including walking away from two acquisitions. Mastercard believes that the combination of a solid Privacy by Design process and additional governance specific to AI – “the AI governance framework” – is the right approach for the long term to maintain consumer trust. Yet, while being a trusted guardian of data with this robust AI governance framework, Mastercard also faces the costs of its high accountability stance – forcing it to make appropriate organizational and managerial choices as well as ensuring that AI governance does not result in a reduction in innovation. The speed of AI integration and need for ethics in data practices will only increase. What does this mean for Mastercard’s business model, profitability and innovation capabilities in the future?
- Discover why organizations investing in AI should also specifically think about addressing potential ethical implications.
- Understand the privacy-related implications of data-driven initiatives and how this can be addressed proactively, using Privacy by Design.
- Analyze a best-practice approach to operationalizing ethical AI governance.
- Explore opportunities and challenges associated with having formal governance mechanisms for AI and for privacy.
Mastercard, Finance and Insurance, Financial Services
2020-2021
Cranfield University
Wharley End Beds MK43 0JR, UK
Tel +44 (0)1234 750903
Email [email protected]
Harvard Business School Publishing
60 Harvard Way, Boston MA 02163, USA
Tel (800) 545-7685 Tel (617)-783-7600
Fax (617) 783-7666
Email [email protected]
NUCB Business School
1-3-1 Nishiki Naka
Nagoya Aichi, Japan 460-0003
Tel +81 52 20 38 111
Email [email protected]
IMD retains all proprietary interests in its case studies and notes. Without prior written permission, IMD cases and notes may not be reproduced, used, translated, included in books or other publications, distributed in any form or by any means, stored in a database or in other retrieval systems. For additional copyright information related to case studies, please contact Case Services.
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications

Uncover AI use cases and opportunities with 4 clear imperatives that align data with business value. Avoid pitfalls and ask the right questions.

Andrew J Hoffman's book explains how Business schools must cultivate leaders who see beyond profits and embrace business as a powerful force for societal good.

Join IMD Senior Researcher Adrian Dellecker and Mariana Sarmiento of Terrasos to explore business opportunities in voluntary biodiversity credits and environmental innovation.

Explore eDNA science with Kristy Deiner on the IMD Management Cast . Learn how genetics, biodiversity, and data analytics shape conservation and the bioeconomy.
The case study introduces an original way of exploring the many questions and concerns around AI adoption in business. Based on a true story, it discusses the dilemma of AI implementation through Joe, the CIO of ParcelFlow. Joe is getting ready to...

Subsidies of renewables has led to electricity prices frequently falling to less than zero leading to opportunities for consumers
This case study explores AstraPay’s journey to become a significant player, despite its latecomer status, in Indonesia’s burgeoning digital payments landscape. Launched in 2018, AstraPay had grown to serve over one million customers, but it faced ...
The rapid expansion of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has delivered significant business advantages, like enhancing automation, efficiency, and decision-making capabilities across industries. However, these innovations come with enviro...

Once corporate activists, today’s CSOs are business integrators. 6 ways the CSO role is evolving: strategist, risk mitigator, innovator, regulator, storyteller, and leader.

Large behavior models (LBMs) promise to be even more impactful than large language models, says IMD’s Tomoko Yokoi
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Case reference: IMD-2650 ©2025
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications
in I by IMD
Research Information & Knowledge Hub for additional information on IMD publications