Snap hires law firm to investigate racially insensitive incidents

Snap has hired a law firm to investigate racial insensitivity at the company, according to a new report from Business Insider.

In June, Mashable talked to several former Snap employees who recalled incidents of racial bias and insensitivity, which some of them initially wrote about on Twitter. 

Snap told Mashable at the time that it was “investigating” the incidents, but declined to provide further specifics on what that meant. Snap CEO Evan Spiegel also told employees at a town hall that it was looking into the incidents, as Business Insider also reported. He also defended not releasing the company’s diversity statistics.

The promises appear to be moving toward action. According to Business Insider’s sources, the law firm of William Kastner has been reaching out to current and former employees as part of a “confidential investigation.” Snap declined to comment on these reports when contacted by Mashable.

The firm is reportedly asking employees about the specific incidents ex-employees detailed to Mashable, including “whitewashing” editorial practices. 

It’s not unusual for a tech company to turn to a law firm for an internal audit of this nature. Facebook used the law firm of Relman Colfax to conduct a review of how the platform impacted civil liberties. 

William Kastner’s website says its practice areas include “Labor & Employment,” “Professional Liability,” and “Crisis Management & Media Relations.” The bio of one of its board members, featured on the company’s website, says his practice includes “personnel investigations, risk management assistance, and defending employers against lawsuits alleging wrongful termination, sexual harassment, retaliation, discrimination and other claims arising under state or federal anti-discrimination laws.”