Meta abandons racial diversity programs in further rightward shift

(Patria) - Social media giant Meta announced on Friday that it is eliminating its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across the company, marking another major strategic shift as it aligns with politically conservative priorities, AFP reported.

In an internal memo to employees, the company cited major changes including the elimination of its diverse hiring approach and the disbanding of its DEI team. This move comes amid what Meta describes as a "changing legal and political landscape" following recent Supreme Court decisions against programs that allowed for increased diversity prioritization at American universities.

The memo, first reported by Axios, came days after Meta abruptly revised its content moderation policies, including ending its US fact-checking program for Facebook and Instagram, in a major shift aligning with the priorities of then-President Donald Trump.

The announcement echoed long-standing complaints from Trump's Republican Party and X owner Elon Musk about fact-checking and hate speech moderation on social media.

Mark Zuckerberg, Meta's chief, has been aggressively moving to reconcile with Trump since his election in November, including donating $1 million to his inaugural fund and hiring a Republican as head of public affairs.

On Friday, he had an interview with popular podcaster Joe Rogan, in which he bitterly criticized the Biden administration for seeking to have content censored on Meta platforms during the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump's Threats

Trump has been a fierce critic of Meta and Zuckerberg for years, accusing the company of bias against him and threatening retribution against the tech billionaire when he returns to office.

Republicans are also fiercely opposed to DEI programs in corporate America, many of which were established following the Black Lives Matter movement and the nation's attempts to reckon with long-standing racial disparities.

Immediately after Trump's election victory in November, Walmart and a host of prestigious brands – from Ford, John Deere and Lowe's to Harley-Davidson and Jack Daniel's – also scaled back programs aimed at strengthening minority groups.

In its memo, Meta said its Chief Diversity Officer Maxine Williams will move to a new role focused on accessibility and engagement as the company phases out its dedicated DEI initiatives.

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram will also eliminate its supplier diversity program, which previously prioritized sourcing from diverse businesses. Instead, Meta says it will focus on broader support for small and medium-sized businesses.

"We serve everyone," the memo stated, emphasizing that the company will continue to recruit candidates from diverse backgrounds while eliminating specific representation targets for women and ethnic minorities that previously existed.