IBM agreed to pay $17 million to resolve a Department of Justice lawsuit alleging the company engaged in illegal diversity, equity, and inclusion practices.
The settlement, reached Friday, concludes the DOJ's investigation into IBM's DEI initiatives. The department had claimed the company's programs violated federal employment law by discriminating against certain groups.
Under the agreement, IBM will pay the fine and implement changes to its hiring and promotion practices. The company also committed to compliance measures and monitoring of its employment decisions going forward.
The case marks a significant legal challenge to corporate DEI programs. The DOJ's lawsuit centered on allegations that IBM's diversity-focused hiring and advancement practices violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.
IBM did not admit wrongdoing as part of the settlement. The company stated it remains committed to creating an inclusive workplace while complying with all applicable laws.
The settlement reflects ongoing litigation across the corporate sector regarding DEI program legality, with multiple companies facing similar legal scrutiny in recent years.
Tim Cook stepped down as Apple CEO on Tuesday after transforming the company's market capitalization from under $350 billion in 2011 to $4.6 trillion today—a 2,736% total return. Annual revenue nearly tripled from $157 billion in FY 2012 to approximately $477 billion in FY 2026.
Salesforce is backing HR software company HiBob with a $160 million investment as part of a funding round that values the startup at over $3.2 billion.
A new study shows approximately 33% of UK adults accessed illegal streaming services in the past three months. The piracy costs the sports, TV, and film industries an estimated £1.4 billion annually.
Hong Kong-listed Z.ai posted H1 2026 revenue of $142 million, a fivefold jump year-over-year, driven by explosive growth in its open platform and API business. The Chinese AI firm narrowed net losses to $308 million, down 12% from the prior year period.