'Incredibly let down' | UK Meta staff concerned over firm's DEI & job cuts

UK employees at Meta, the owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, feel "concerned" and "let down" following the company's decision to scrap fact-checking initiatives and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, according to the trade union representing its staff.

Prospect, the UK’s leading union for tech employees, which represents Meta’s UK workforce, has written to the social media giant outlining concerns over recent decisions made by chief executive Mark Zuckerberg.

Last week, Meta announced plans to cut 5% of its global workforce, warning employees that further job reductions were likely as part of efforts to "raise the bar" on performance management. The move could see approximately 3,600 employees affected worldwide.

The company also confirmed it would be scrapping its US fact-checking programme and became the latest major corporation to scale back DEI initiatives amid increasing pressure from conservative critics.