Brian Amerige, Facebook engineer who criticised ‘intolerant’ culture, leaves

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Brian Amerige, the Facebook engineer who sparked a firestorm at Facebook with his criticism of what he called a “political monoculture” that is “intolerant” of conservatism, is leaving the company.

In an internal message to fellow employees on Wednesday, Amerige wrote: “These problems can be solved — just not by me, not any more, at least. I care too deeply about our role in supporting free expression and intellectual diversity to even whole-heartedly attempt the product stuff anymore, and that’s how I know it’s time to go.”

In the message, seen by Business Insider, he said he is starting a company with his friend “at the intersection of applied philosophy epistemology, specifically) and technology.”

In August Amerige, who identifies politically as objectivist, wrote an internal memo decrying what he described as the Silicon Valley’s company’s “intolerant” culture. “We are a political monoculture that’s intolerant of different views … we claim to welcome all perspectives, but are quick to attack — often in mobs — anyone who presents a view that appears to be in opposition to left-leaning ideology,” we wrote.

His writing subsequently sparked an internal group, “FB’ers for Political Diversity,” where conservative employees protested the company’s practices.

This story is developing…

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