Meta has announced it is ending its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, a move that comes in response to pressure from conservative critics and customers. The company’s decision marks the latest shift away from such initiatives in the wake of the recent US presidential election.
According to a company memo, Meta will be eliminating its DEI team and ending various programs aimed at promoting equality and inclusion. The change is attributed to changes in the legal landscape surrounding diversity efforts in the United States.
Meta’s chief diversity officer, Maxine Williams, will now focus on accessibility and engagement initiatives. However, the company will no longer require managers to source candidates from underrepresented groups or hire minority-owned vendors and suppliers.
The decision to abandon DEI programs follows other recent changes at Meta, which critics argue cater more to conservative values. The company has also announced the end of its third-party fact-checking programs in the US, changed its hateful conduct policies, and introduced new types of content on its platforms that were previously banned.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago, which has raised concerns among critics. In a recent interview on The Joe Rogan podcast, Zuckerberg stated that his views on free speech have evolved over time, citing pressure from institutions and the media as factors in this shift.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/10/tech/meta-ends-dei-programs/index.html