Apple shareholders vote down anti-DEI proposal

Core Viewpoint - Apple shareholders rejected an anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) proposal at its investor meeting, despite growing scrutiny of DEI programs in the tech industry [1][2]. Group 1: Shareholder Proposal - The proposal was introduced by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NPPR), advocating for Apple to cease its DEI activities [1]. - This was one of four shareholder proposals presented at the meeting, which typically sees boards recommending rejection of such proposals [1]. Group 2: Industry Context - The proposal gained national attention as other tech companies, such as Meta, Amazon, and Google, have either eliminated or reduced their DEI initiatives [2]. - Meta has completely removed its DEI programs, while Amazon plans to scale back its efforts, and Google is reviewing its internal DEI programs and has abandoned diversity hiring goals [2]. Group 3: Company Response - CEO Tim Cook indicated that as the legal landscape regarding DEI evolves, Apple may need to adjust its approach to ensure compliance [3].