Meta axes diversity and inclusion programme
10 January 2025, 22:54
It follows the social media giant’s decision to end its third-party fact-checking programme.
Joining companies such as John Deere and Walmart, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company Meta Platforms Inc is getting rid of its diversity, equity and inclusion programme that includes hiring, training and picking vendors, a company spokesperson confirmed on Friday.
The move, which was first reported by Axios, comes on the heels of the social media giant’s decision to end its third-party fact-checking programme and scale back policies on hate speech and abuse.
Citing an internal memo sent to employees, Axios said the California-based tech giant said the US Supreme Court “has recently made decisions signalling a shift in how courts will approach DEI. … The term ‘DEI’ has also become charged, in part because it is understood by some as a practice that suggests preferential treatment of some groups over others.”
In practice, this means Meta will no longer have a team focused on diversity and inclusion and the company said it will instead “focus on how to apply fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for all, no matter your background”.
The company will also end its “diverse slate approach” to hiring, which meant that a diverse pool of candidates was considered for every open position.
Other companies that have ended DEI programmes recently include McDonald’s, car maker Ford, Walmart and farm equipment maker John Deere.
