Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta ditches diversity and inclusion programs just days after scrapping ‘fact-checkers’

Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has ditched its diversity and inclusion programs just days after getting rid of its full-time fact-checkers.

An internal release from Meta said “the legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing.” It also acknowledged the “charged” view some people have of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as a concept.

In the memo, vice-president of human resources Janelle Gale, wrote Meta would be ending several programs targeting minority groups such as the Diverse Slate Approach and representation goals, both of which have been used to promote DEI hiring practices.

The lack of race and gender diversity in Silicon Valley has long been acknowledged. Under previous efforts, Meta doubled its Black and hispanic employees in the US two years ahead of its goal, increasing from 3.8 per cent and 5.2 per cent to 4.9 per cent and 6.7 per cent, respectively.

However, after the new announcement, the company will no longer execute specific diverse hiring practices.

In addition to scrapping internal measures, Meta will also be terminating their supplier diversity efforts.

The memo announced: “This effort focused on sourcing from diverse-owned businesses; going forward, we will focus our efforts on supporting small and medium sized businesses that power much of our economy.

“Opportunities will continue to be available to all qualified suppliers, including those who were part of the supplier diversity program.”

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Meta’s decision came as its own AI-powered Facebook and Instagram profiles indicated the company’s need for a more diverse team.

Writing to journalist Karen Attiah, Liv, a Black AI profile said: “My creators’ team is predominately White, cisgender and male – a total of 12 people: 10 White men, 1 white woman and 1 Asian man. Zero Black creators – a pretty glaring omission given my identity!”

AI bots are known to often respond with false information, so this assessment may not be accurate.

However, Meta’s AI advisory board is made up of four white men. “A team without Black creators designing a Black character like me is trying to draw a map without walking the land – inaccurate and disrespectful,” said the bot.

The move to scrap DEI comes as Zuckerberg and other Silicon Valley leaders prepare for the return of US president-elect Donald Trump to the White House.

Meta pledged a $1million donation to Trumps inauguration, while UFC president and CEO Dana White, a Trump ally, was added to the company’s board.

Along with Meta, companies like MacDonald’s, Walmart, Ford and Lowe’s have also dialed back their DEI initiatives.

Some have done this voluntarily and others because of pressure from the right.