Meta Platforms bids farewell to DEI programs: Shift in corporate strategy

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has decided to discontinue its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program, which previously included areas such as hiring processes, training, and supplier selection. In doing so, the tech giant joins the ranks of prominent companies like John Deere and Walmart, which recently abandoned similar programs. The decision comes immediately after the announcement to end the external fact-checking program and scale back policies on hate speech and abuse. An internal memo to employees points to recent decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court suggesting that courts may handle DEI differently in the future. Additionally, the term DEI has increasingly gained emotional charge, partly because it is perceived by some as preferential treatment of certain groups. In the future, Meta will not have specific DEI-related teams, but will focus on fair and consistent practices to reduce bias against all people equally, regardless of their background. The approach of always considering a diverse pool of candidates when filling positions will also be discontinued. Other companies that have recently terminated their DEI programs include McDonald's, the automotive manufacturer Ford, Walmart, and the agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere.