Meta cuts inclusivity program over Biden's criticism of Zuckerberg

The American corporation Meta (recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) stops implementing its diversity, equality and inclusion (DEI) programs. This was reported by CNN on January 10.

Meta's Vice President of Human Resources Janelle Gale sent out a memo to employees around the world, saying that the company is dissolving its DEI team, ending its "equity and inclusion programs and changing its hiring and supplier diversity practices." In doing so, Meta became the latest to opt out of such activities.

"The legal and political landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing," Gail wrote.

She also said the term DEI has become an accusatory term because some believe it implies "preferential treatment of some groups over others."

Instead of DEI, Meta plans to develop programs that focus on ways to implement fair and consistent practices that mitigate bias for everyone, regardless of background.

The TV station quotes CEO Mark Zuckerberg as saying that he has come along way over the past decade, starting out as a "fierce advocate of free speech and expression," but pressure from U.S. President Joe Biden 's administration to mitigate misinformation about COVID-19 on social media has changed his perspective.

Zuckerberg said that fact-checking and content moderation has gotten to the point where it has "destroyed the credibility" of the platform.

"Essentially, these people from the Biden administration were calling our team and yelling at them and swearing at them, and it's documented," the corporate CEO said.

Earlier, on January 7, McDonald's, the largest fast-food restaurant chain, decided to abandon its inclusive policies and is eliminating the targeted "diversity metrics" that used to be in place for employees.

On the same day, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the corporation was ending its fact-checking program and lifting restrictions on speech on its platforms. In addition, he said, the company intends to remove various restrictions on a number of topics.

Prior to this, on December 12, 2024, the American corporation Meta donated $1 million to the foundation of US President-elect Donald Trump in order to establish relations with the future leader of the country. It is specified that this step differs from the company's usual policy: Meta did not invest in Trump's foundation during the election in 2017, and also did not sponsor the foundation of the current American leader Joe Biden in 2021.