Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC) board has urged shareholders to reject a proposal to end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes, ahead of its annual general meeting on 25 February.
The proposal, put forward by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR), claims DEI policies expose companies to legal and financial risks.
Apple countered that it already has robust compliance measures and argued the proposal would improperly interfere with its governance.
The move comes amid a broader rollback of DEI initiatives by US companies such as Meta and Amazon, citing shifting legal landscapes following a 2023 Supreme Court ruling against affirmative action.
Conservative groups have increased pressure on businesses, threatening legal action over DEI policies.