A former “diversity strategist” at Facebook has pleaded guilty to stealing over $4 million from the social media giant.
Barbara Furlow-Smiles, who led the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs at Facebook from 2017 to 2021, has been accused by prosecutors of cheating and defrauding the company during her tenure. While at Facebook, Furlow-Smiles was responsible for implementing DEI initiatives and engagement programs.
As part of her role, Furlow-Smiles had access to company credit cards and the authority to approve invoices. Furlow-Smiles allegedly used transaction services such as PayPal, Venmo, and Cash App to charge personal expenses to her Facebook credit cards, including sending money to friends and family. She would then submit fraudulent expense reports.
U.S. Attorney Ryan Buchanan commented on the case, stating, “This defendant abused a position of a trust as a global diversity executive for Facebook to defraud the company of millions of dollars, ignoring the insidious consequences of undermining the importance of her DEI mission.” The U.S. Attorney’s office further stated that Furlow-Smiles used this money to live a “luxury lifestyle” in California and Georgia.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has stated that it is “cooperating with law enforcement on the case” and “will continue to do so.”
This recent revelation of a Facebook diversity strategist abusing her role in the company has further prompted the question of what purpose DEI programs serve. Many corporations, universities, and government agencies have emphasized the need for diversity programs, but it is not always clear what exactly these employees are responsible for.
Skepticism over DEI programs has prompted several states to take action. Just this week, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt signed an executive order defunding all DEI programs in state agencies and public colleges. Stitt described this decision as a shift away from “exclusivity and discrimination” and toward “opportunity and merit.”
