Meta Ends Diversity, Equity Programs

Meta has announced the termination of its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, including its diverse slate hiring approach and dedicated DEI team, citing a changing legal and policy landscape in the U.S. This decision aligns with the company’s efforts to reconcile with the incoming Trump administration, which has been critical of DEI initiatives. Janelle Gale, Meta's VP of Human Resources, indicated that recent Supreme Court rulings have influenced this shift, as the term 'DEI' has become politically charged. Concurrently, Meta is also ending its fact-checking programs, which reflect broader changes in its content moderation strategies. The move has been met with backlash from employees and advocacy groups, expressing concerns over increased hate speech and misinformation on the platform. This trend mirrors similar actions taken by other corporations like Ford and McDonald's, which have also scaled back on DEI initiatives.