MENLO PARK, Calif. — Meta Platforms Inc., the parent organization of Facebook and Instagram, is eliminating its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program that encompasses aspects like hiring, training, and vendor selection, as confirmed by a company representative on Friday.
This decision, initially reported by Axios, follows the recent choice by the tech giant to conclude its third-party fact-checking initiative and to diminish its policies regarding hate speech and abusive behavior. The internal memo provided to employees highlighted that recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings indicate a new direction in how courts may view DEI. The term “DEI” has also gained a controversial reputation, with some interpreting it as implying preferential treatment for selected groups over others.
As a result, Meta has stated it will dissolve its dedicated team that was centered on diversity and inclusion. Instead, the company plans to direct its efforts towards implementing fair and consistent practices aimed at reducing bias for all individuals, regardless of their background.
Moreover, Meta will discontinue its “diverse slate approach,” which previously ensured that a range of candidates from diverse backgrounds was considered for each job opening.
Other big companies are similarly scaling back their DEI initiatives, including McDonald’s, Ford, Walmart, and John Deere. Amazon has also announced it will stop certain DEI programs, though it did not detail which programs are affected. In a memo shared with employees, Candi Castleberry, a senior HR executive at Amazon, stated that the company is in the process of phasing out outdated programs and aims to complete this by the end of 2024.
Castleberry emphasized that while there would always be some individuals or teams who engage in well-meaning actions that might not align with the company’s overall strategy, the organization is committed to refining its approach. Instead of having separate groups create their initiatives, Amazon intends to concentrate on programs with demonstrated effectiveness, with the ultimate goal of nurturing a genuinely inclusive culture.
