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Facebook accused of having 'black people problem' by former employee

Facebook was criticised by a former employee: Getty Images
Facebook was criticised by a former employee: Getty Images

A black former Facebook employee has lashed out at the social network, accusing it of having a "black people problem" in a public memo about his time at the company.

Mark Luckie published a note he circulated inside Facebook shortly before his last day at the company earlier this month, in which he claimed he had witnessed a range of discrimination issues.

He said he had spoken to other black employees who shared similar experiences, making it clear there was a “pattern of behaviour” within the company.

His wrote: “Facebook has a black people problem. One of the platform's most engaged demographics and an unmatched cultural trendsetter is having their community divided by the actions and inaction of the company. This loss is a direct reflection of the staffing and treatment of many of its black employees.”

Facebook has said it is continuously working to be inclusive.

He added: “A few black employees have reported being specifically dissuaded by their managers from becoming active in the [internal] Black@ group or doing “Black stuff,” even if it happens outside of work hours.”

He added that he believed black people remained underrepresented at the company.

"In some buildings, there are more Black Lives Matter posters than there are actual black people.

“Facebook can't claim that it is connecting communities if those communities aren't represented proportionately in its staffing," he said.

In its most recent diversity report, published in July, Facebook said the proportion of black employees at the company had risen from 2 per cen to 4 per cent, but the number of black employees in technical roles remained at 1 per cent and the figure in leadership roles was 2 per cent.

Mr Luckie said his experiences meant he had "lost the will and the desire to advocate on behalf of Facebook".

In response, Facebook said it was continuously working to be inclusive.

"Over the last few years, we've been working diligently to increase the range of perspectives among those who build our products and serve the people who use them throughout the world," a company spokeswoman said.

"The growth in representation of people from more diverse groups, working in many different functions across the company, is a key driver of our ability to succeed.

"We want to fully support all employees when there are issues reported and when there may be micro-behaviours that add up. We are going to keep doing all we can to be a truly inclusive company."