Meta confirmed it is ending its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs. The company is also ending its diversity hiring targets and its practice of prioritizing minority-owned businesses by eliminating the chief diversity officer position.
News that Meta was ending its DEI initiatives was highlighted by Axios and The New York Times. According to the company’s internal correspondence, the changing “legal and political environment” lies behind this decision. Meta Vice President of Human Resources Janelle Gale said in a memo to employees that the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decisions signal a shift in the courts’ approach to DEI issues. “The term DEI has become controversial because it is perceived by some as a practice that means preferential treatment to certain groups,” Gale said.
The Supreme Court’s recent decisions frown upon attempts to address systemic problems such as race, gender, and sexuality. However, it is difficult to say that Meta’s decision is based solely on legal concerns.
Meta’s decision to end DEI programs should be evaluated together with the company’s other recent political changes. Mark Zuckerberg announced that he is stopping third-party verification processes and changing the types of speech allowed on his platform. During the same period, it was reported that Meta removed “Trans and Non-Binary Themes” topics and announcements regarding these themes from its Messenger platform.
Meta also made changes in its senior management.
In addition, it was announced that UFC CEO and Trump supporter Dana White had joined the Meta board of directors. Although Zuckerberg’s admiration for the UFC is known, this move indicates that the company is starting to give more space to conservative voices.
Meta’s changes go beyond the current legal and political environment and show that the company is reshaping the way it does business in the future. Less monitoring, more flexibility and a shift towards conservative perspectives appear to be among the cornerstones of the company’s new strategy.