Zuckerberg’s Meta Terminates DEI Programs Following End to Fact-Checking At Social Media Platforms
AP Photo/David Zalubowski
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has given the death blow to their DEI — diversity, equality, and inclusivity — programs, effective immediately, according to an employee memo obtained by Axios.
The DEI programs coming to an end affect hiring and training practices. The memo obtained by Axios comes from Janelle Gale, the vice president of human resources for the company. Gale said the “legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing” in the memo.
She went on to state that the term DEI has become “charged” in today’s culture.
“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 memo reads.
The company will be cutting its DEI-focused team and stop pursuing “representation goals,” as part of its course shift.
“We believe there are other ways to build an industry-leading workforce and leverage teams made up of world-class people from all types of backgrounds,” Gale wrote.
The move is the latest move by Zuckerberg’s company made to align itself more closely with President-elect Donald Trump’s views. Trump has been a vocal critic of DEI programs.
In what was seen as another victory for Trump, Zuckerberg also recently announced an end to fact-checking programs for Facebook and Instagram, saying it had “gone too far.” The company will move to a “community note” system, similar to Elon Musk’s X.
“We tried in good faith to address those concerns without becoming the arbiters of truth. But the fact checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they’ve created, especially in the US,” Zuckerberg said. “So over the next couple of months, we’re going to phase in a more comprehensive community note system.”
Zuckerberg is one of a number of tech leaders to visit Trump at Mar-a-Lago since his presidential victory. Meta also donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration. Jeff Bezos’s Amazon also donated $1 million, as did Apple CEO Tim Cook.
