Google, Meta & Microsoft scale back diversity data disclosures amid Trump-era anti-DEI push; Apple & Amazon publish
Some of the leading US tech companies are abandoning the practice of publishing gender and race statistics of their workforce. According to a report by Wired from four employees who are aware of internal developments, technology giant Google does not plan to share information this year.
Additionally, the report, based on company spokespersons, stated that Microsoft and Meta will not publish diversity reports and data this year.
This significant reduction in transparency could obscure the effects of U.S. President Donald Trump’s anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) policies on the tech workforce. It could also create obstacles for workers and civil rights organizations seeking to influence tech companies to better reflect the demographics of the countries in which they operate, the report said.
These three technology giants, which together employ hundreds of thousands of people around the world, contrast with their peers in the industry. Apple, Amazon and Nvidia released new diversity data this year.
Why isn’t Microsoft releasing data this year?
The report quoted Frank Shaw, Microsoft’s chief spokesman, as saying that the company “is not producing a traditional report this year because we are evolving beyond that to more dynamic and accessible formats;” this includes “stories, videos and insights that show engagement in action.” He added that the company’s “mission and commitment to our culture and values remain unchanged.”
Meanwhile, Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton confirmed that the company will not release a diversity report this year. He did not explain the reason for the decision.
What did Google’s previous statements reveal?
Disclosures over the past decade have revealed that Google and many other tech companies are increasingly hiring women and racial minorities. However, these groups are underrepresented in technical and management roles compared to their proportion in the general U.S. population. Some firms have also released extra data that points to higher attrition rates among racial minorities and limited diversity for disabled or LGBTQ employees.
Google first published employee diversity data in 2014, and many other tech giants followed suit later that year.
Tech executives have realized the importance of being more transparent about the underrepresentation of certain demographic groups. “These challenges are difficult to overcome if you are not prepared to discuss them openly and factually,” Laszlo Bock, Google’s head of people operations, said in the report.
Following the first report, Google published 11 annual reports containing data from 2013 to 2023, and the last report was published in June 2024. Meta publishes data from 2014 to 2022, while Microsoft last published the report in October 2024.
Trump’s anti-DEI policy
Following Trump’s return to the White House in January, the institutional dialogue surrounding DEI underwent a shift. He instructed federal agencies to “combat illegal private sector DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities,” which could include suing or fining companies that value identity over merit in employment choices.
Companies including Meta and Google suspended minority hiring targets and removed some language about “diversity, equity and inclusion” from their websites and regulatory filings during Trump’s order. They have also significantly reduced funding for DEI initiatives, such as events, training and recruiting efforts aimed at increasing minority representation, as reported by company statements and employees.
