News in brief: Meta and Amazon Distance Themselves from DEI; Venu Sports Streaming Cancelled; Apple UK Antitrust Trial Begins

Meta and Amazon Distance Themselves from DEI

Meta has decided to terminate its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes, reports Axios. A memo by Janelle Gale, Meta’s vice president of human resources, claims that the company is implementing these changes because the “legal and policy landscape surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the United States is changing”. Meta will no longer enact specific diverse hiring practices; it will also end its equity and inclusion training, as well as disbanding a team focused on DEI. This closely follows the company’s decision to scrap fact-checking on its platforms, instead moving towards a Community Notes model, inspired by Elon Musk’s X. 

Similarly, Amazon has announced it will be halting some of its diversity and inclusion programmes. In a memo to employees, a senior resources executive at Amazon – Candi Castleberry – said Amazon would be “winding down” outdated programmes and materials. She explained that this would be part of a review of hundreds of initiatives. She added that this included programmes which have already completed their course. 

Venu Sports Streaming Venture Cancelled 

Venu Sports, the joint streaming venture between Disney, Fox and Warner Bros., has been cancelled before becoming available. “In an ever-changing marketplace, we determined that it was best to meet the evolving demands of sports fans by focusing on existing products and distribution channels,” the companies said in a statement. The streaming service’s supposed launch date – 23rd August 2024 – had been and gone without it becoming available to the public. 

Apple UK Antitrust Trial Begins

On Monday, Apple went to trial in the UK over allegations that it had violated competition law by using its dominant market position to charge developers inflated fees. The trial, which is taking place in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, is expected to last around seven weeks. In a statement, Apple has expressed its beliefs that the lawsuit is “meritless”.