Do Corporations Have More Rights Than People in 2025?

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The question of whether corporations have more rights than individuals in 2025 remains a contentious and complex issue, shaped by legal rulings, regulatory developments, and public perceptions. Corporations are granted legal personhood, which allows them to own property, enter contracts, sue and be sued, and participate in economic activities as single entities. This status is essential for business operations but does not mean corporations possess all the rights that natural persons enjoy. For instance, corporations have freedom of speech protections affirmed by the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, enabling them to spend unlimited funds on political campaigns. Yet, corporations lack many fundamental rights reserved for individuals, such as voting, protection against self-incrimination, and certain privacy rights tied to personal identity.

Despite this, corporations do enjoy a range of rights and privileges that ordinary people do not, giving them a unique and often outsized legal and practical advantage. Here are some examples of rights corporations have that individuals typically do not:

Rights Corporations Have that Individuals Typically Do Not

1. Unlimited Political Spending and Lobbying – Corporations can spend unlimited amounts on political campaigns and lobbying, a right individuals do not have, allowing them to shape legislation and policy to their advantage.

2. Immunity from Criminal Imprisonment – Corporations cannot be jailed for crimes; instead, they face fines or sanctions, while individuals involved may be personally prosecuted.

3. Protection Against Unreasonable Searches and Seizures – The Fourth Amendment shields corporations from unwarranted searches of their offices, records, and digital assets, often providing stronger protections than individuals experience.

4. Equal Protection Under the Law – Corporations are protected from discriminatory treatment by states based on characteristics like race, religion, or nationality, ensuring legal safeguards not always extended to individuals.

5. Separate Legal Entity and Limited Liability – As distinct legal persons, corporations can sue and be sued, and shareholders are typically shielded from personal liability for corporate debts or legal actions.

6. Use of Subsidiaries to Isolate Risk and Liability – Corporations can create subsidiaries or shell companies to compartmentalize liabilities and avoid direct accountability.

7. Access to Libel and Defamation Laws with Greater Resources – Corporations can aggressively defend their reputations through libel laws, leveraging vast legal resources to intimidate critics more effectively than most individuals can.

8. Commercial Free Speech Rights – Corporations enjoy broad constitutional protections for commercial speech, including advertising and marketing, which individuals do not possess to the same extent.

9. Perpetual Existence and Property Ownership – Corporations exist indefinitely, allowing them to hold property, intellectual property, and contracts beyond human lifespans.

10. Strategic Immunity from Personal Rights – Corporations do not have personal rights such as the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, which can be advantageous in regulatory or criminal investigations.

11. Legal Standing in Intellectual Property Enforcement – Corporations can assert patents, trademarks, and copyrights with state backing, often enforcing these rights more aggressively than individuals.

12. Influence Over International Trade and Regulatory Regimes – Corporations operate globally and can leverage international trade agreements and dispute mechanisms to challenge national laws, a power unavailable to individuals.

13. Priority in Bankruptcy and Insolvency Proceedings – Corporate creditors often receive prioritized treatment over employees or individual claimants during insolvency.

14. Preferential Treatment by Governments – Corporations frequently receive preferential treatment and protection from governments, including tax incentives, subsidies, and regulatory favors. Crucially, governments sometimes collaborate with or exploit corporate control over platforms like social media to monitor, manipulate, or influence public opinion and surveil citizens—tools unavailable to individuals. This symbiotic relationship amplifies corporate power and extends government reach into private lives, deepening the imbalance between corporations and ordinary people.

These rights, combined with vast financial and legal resources, make corporations powerful actors in society—often more powerful than many individuals and even some states. This legal empowerment fuels the perception that corporations have “more rights” than people, especially given their ability to influence politics and shield themselves from certain liabilities. However, it is important to note that these rights are specialized and instrumental, designed to facilitate business operations rather than to replace or exceed the fundamental human and constitutional rights of individuals.

Is the Situation Getting better?

In 2025, talk of increasing corporate accountability alongside rights often rings hollow. Despite governments and international bodies imposing stricter human rights due diligence laws, environmental regulations, and social responsibility standards—such as the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD)—corporations continue to amass power and wealth. These measures, while symbolically important, have yet to significantly curb corporate influence or slow their financial growth. On the contrary, corporations are thriving amid record investments, expanding markets, and growing political clout, often outpacing the regulatory frameworks meant to hold them accountable.

Far from losing ground, corporations are capitalizing on favorable economic conditions and technological advances. The global economy in 2025 shows robust growth in many sectors, with corporations leading investments in energy, technology, and infrastructure. For example, corporate procurement of renewable energy hit record levels in 2024, driven largely by tech giants, while industries continue to expand their energy consumption and operational footprints. Business leaders remain optimistic, with many planning revenue growth, workforce expansion, and new market entries despite rising costs. This economic momentum translates into greater resources for corporations to influence policy, shape markets, and protect their interests—often far beyond the reach of ordinary individuals.

Ultimately, the legal rights corporations hold combined with their vast financial and organizational resources create a persistent imbalance in power. While regulations and accountability initiatives exist, they often serve as lip service against the backdrop of corporations’ growing dominance. The reality in 2025 is that corporations are not losing power or money; they are gaining both, reinforcing their position as some of the most influential actors in society. This growing disparity calls for more than regulatory gestures—it demands fundamental reforms to ensure that corporate rights do not overshadow the rights and well-being of individuals.

What Can You Do?

You can take action by signing petitions and supporting campaigns aimed at removing or limiting the legal personhood status of corporations, which grants them many rights and privileges that individuals do not have. These efforts seek to challenge the legal fiction that corporations are “persons” under the law, enabling them to wield outsized political influence, avoid personal criminal liability, and receive protections intended for natural persons. By participating in such petitions and supporting organizations focused on corporate accountability, you help raise awareness and pressure lawmakers to reconsider corporate rights and increase accountability. Additionally, engaging in public discussions and contacting elected representatives to express your concerns can further contribute to building momentum for meaningful legal reforms that better balance corporate power with individual rights.

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