Facebook to pay $14M to settle claims of discrimination against US workers

Facebook has agreed to wage much than $14 cardinal to settee Trump-era claims that it discriminated against American workers erstwhile filling lucrative jobs, the Justice Department said Tuesday.

According to federal prosecutors, Facebook had acceptable speech much than 2,600 US-based jobs — astir of which paid six-figure salaries — for foreign-born workers connected impermanent visas.

The institution “refused” to see US citizens for the jobs successful usurpation of anti-discrimination laws, prosecutors said successful the suit filed successful December.

Under Tuesday’s agreement, Facebook volition fork implicit a $4.75 cardinal good to the US authorities and wage retired up to $9.5 cardinal to alleged victims of the discrimination.

The Mark Zuckerberg-helmed societal media elephantine volition besides beryllium required to springiness its employees anti-discrimination grooming and marque a greater effort to enlistee American workers. 

While the colony represents a driblet successful the bucket for a institution that took successful $86 cardinal successful gross past year, national prosecutors nevertheless declared victory. 

In a statement, Facebook said it was not admitting wrongdoing, but was gladsome to person the substance down it. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been connected the blistery spot precocious with immoderate lawmakers moving for antitrust enactment against the company.POOL/AFP via Getty Images

“Facebook is not supra the law, and indispensable comply with our nation’s national civilian rights laws, which prohibit discriminatory recruitment and hiring practices,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke.

“Companies cannot acceptable speech definite positions for impermanent visa holders due to the fact that of their citizenship oregon migration status,” she said. “This colony reflects the Civil Rights Division’s committedness to holding employers accountable and eradicating discriminatory employment practices.”

“These resolutions volition alteration america to proceed our absorption connected hiring the champion builders from some the U.S. and astir the world, and supporting our interior assemblage of highly skilled visa holders who are seeking imperishable residence,” a spokesperson for the institution said. 

Deputy US Attorney General Kristen Clarke said: “Companies cannot acceptable speech definite positions for impermanent visa holders due to the fact that of their citizenship oregon migration status.”Getty Images

In a connection to The Post, a Facebook spokesperson denied immoderate wrongdoing but said it was gladsome to “move forward” pursuing the settlement. 

The quality comes arsenic Facebook faces accrued scrutiny successful Washington, DC, aft whistleblower Frances Haugen brought attraction to Instagram’s intelligence wellness effects connected teens.

Details of alleged advertizing marketplace collusion between Google and Facebook are besides acceptable to beryllium made nationalist this week, which observers accidental could adhd substance to a growing governmental appetite for antitrust enactment against the companies.