More changes for Meta: the company ends its diversity, equity and inclusion programs

Meta ends its diversity, equity and inclusion programs, known as DEI by its acronym in English. This measure follows the company’s announcement to eliminate its data verification system to adopt a community notes model on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Threads, and put the company in Mark Zuckeberg in the center of media attention.

“It’s time to get back to our roots around free expression,” Mark Zuckerberg himself said about the decision to replace fact-checkers with ‘Community Notes’. Now the company dismantles its diversity programswhich will affect the hiring, training and supplier selection processes.

According to a Meta memo published by Axiossent by Janelle Gale, vice president of human resources at Meta, to all the company’s global employees, “the legal and political landscape around diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the United States is changing”. The statement highlights that the term ‘DEI’ has acquired a controversial character “in part because some understand it as a practice that suggests preferential treatment to some groups over others.”

So, Meta will eliminate the team focused on diversity, equity and inclusion programs and practices related to this aspect in hiring processes will be reoriented, after previously eliminating their representation quotas for women and ethnic minorities. Maxine Williamswho until now held the position of Chief Diversity Officer, will assume a new role at Meta, focused on accessibility and participation.

Meta eliminates its diversity, equity and inclusion programs

Through this measure, Meta will stop requiring managers to seek candidates from unrepresented groups and end efforts to hire minority suppliers. “We believe there are other ways to create an industry-leading workforce and leverage teams made up of top-notch people from all types of backgrounds to create products that work for everyone,” Meta’s statement details.

Instead of equity and inclusion programs, Meta will focus on generate programs that focus on how to apply fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for everyone. In this sense, the memorandum highlights that Meta is a company that “serves everyone”, committing to making accessible, beneficial products with universal impact, forming the best teams through talented people.

“We remain focused on serving everyone and building a multi-skilled, industry-leading workforce from all walks of life.”concludes the company note.

More changes in Meta

This movement adds to the various changes that the Menlo Park company is adopting in preparation for Donald Trump’s return to the White House. The Republican politician has openly criticized the company’s approach to political content, even threatening the company with jailing Zuckerberg for “conspire against him in 2020.”

Now the company seeks to build bridges with the politician. For example, Nick Clegg, head of global affairs at Meta, announced his departure from the company, being replaced by Joel Kaplana long-time policy executive with deep Republican ties. In addition, Meta has donated a million dollars to Trump’s inauguration ceremony and has also added to its board of directors Dana WhiteCEO of the UFC, who has publicly supported the president-elect of the United States.