Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge
Meta is eliminating its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs because of the “legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts” in the US, according to a memo to employees seen by Axios. Meta will also reportedly roll back representation goals and end its “diverse slate approach” to hiring.
The memo, which was written by Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of human resources, said the company would replace DEI programs with ones “that focus on how to apply fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for all, no matter your background,” as reported by Axios. The company will also reportedly “end efforts to source business suppliers from diverse-owned businesses.”
“The Supreme Court of the United States has recently made decisions signaling a shift in how courts will approach DEI,” Gale wrote, according to Axios. “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.”
The Verge reached out to Meta with a request for comment but didn’t immediately hear back.
Following Meta’s appointment of the Trump-friendly policy chief Joel Kaplan, Meta announced its plans to replace third-party fact-checking with a Community Notes system similar to Elon Musk’s X.
Meta also overhauled its Hateful Conduct Policy, adding rules that now “allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation,” among other horrible things, and announced plans to move its moderation teams from California to Texas due to concerns about “bias.”
