Why did Meta just hire this Ron DeSantis-approved Project 2025 alum? - INTO
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Why did Meta just hire this Ron DeSantis-approved Project 2025 alum?

Another day, another reason to ask ourselves, “what the hell are we doing?”

Today that question is directed toward whoever is in charge of hiring at Meta, because they just majorly sh*t the bed with this choice.

https://twitter.com/Esqueer_/status/1828108318721925475

So who is Dustin Carmack? Well, his resume is pretty decked out with gross stuff, like a stint at the conservative hellhole think tank the Heritage Foundation and five years serving as chief of staff to Ron DeSantis during the Trump years. So basically yeah, anyone who’s upset about Meta’s relaxed moderation of anti-gay hate speech is probably not going to be happy about this hire.

Perhaps trans actress Nicole Maines pointed out Meta’s hypocrisy best with this tweet:

https://twitter.com/NicoleAMaines/status/1828150590297514300

As usual, we have to ask whom these kinds of cybersecurity measures actually serve. Because it ain’t LGBTQ+ people.

It’s not looking good for the queer folks who still have to use Facebook.

https://twitter.com/ShelleyBWoke/status/1828116131338740027

Also…how did this guy’s name even get in the running?

If Carmack becomes the face of Meta in regards to state legislation, we’re headed toward danger.

https://twitter.com/Esqueer_/status/1828108900975169820

And in case you’re wondering, yes, this effects Threads, too.

https://twitter.com/gramsdidit/status/1822873099936657826

Is nowhere safe? The short answer is no. But if there’s one thing we know about gays and the Internet, it’s that wild horses couldn’t tear us asunder. We won’t cede this holy ground!

But we will humbly request that Meta gets their act together, tout de suite.


Henry Giardina (he/they) is the editor of INTO. He lives in Los Angeles. Past publications include the New York Times, The Believer, The New Yorker, The Paris Review Daily, The Atlantic, Film Comment, and Gizmodo. He is @punkgroucho on Twitter.