The company maintained that the move affects, hiring, supplier and training efforts, Meta cited a “shifting legal and policy landscape” as the main reason behind its latest decision
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US President-elect Donald Trump greets Meta chief Mark Zuckerberg. File image/@donaldtrump/X
As US President-elect Donald Trump gears up to take over the Oval Office, reports are emerging that Meta and Amazon are getting rid of diversity programmes. The tech giants joined hundreds of firms in corporate America that are rolling back on the hiring and training initiatives which have been widely criticised by the Conservatives in the past.
Interestingly, the move came just days after Meta, the parent company of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, said it was ending a fact-checking programme in the US that was criticised by Trump and several Republican leaders. While getting rid of the diversity initiatives, Meta sent out a memo to staff about its decision, BBC reported.
The company maintained that the move affects, hiring, supplier and training efforts, Meta cited a “shifting legal and policy landscape” as the main reason behind its latest decision. Meta follows companies like Walmart and McDonalds which have made similar decisions regarding diversity efforts. All the companies decided to make policy changes soon after Trump won the 2024 US elections.
Companies hide behind Supreme Court ruling
In its memo to the staff, Meta supported its move by citing a Supreme Court ruling concerning race in college admissions. The company said that the term ‘DEI’ (diversity, equity and inclusion) had become “charged,” BBC reported. The tech giant assured that it would continue to look for diverse staff but it will end its current approach of making selections from a pool of diverse candidates.
In December last year, Amazon sent out a memo to its employees stating that it is “winding down outdated programs and materials” related to representation and inclusion. The company noted that it aims to complete the process by the end of 2024.
“Rather than have individual groups build programs, we are focusing on programs with proven outcomes — and we also aim to foster a more truly inclusive culture,” Candi Castleberry, Amazon’s VP