Meta chief global affairs officer Joel Kaplan plans to leave the company in 2027, a Meta spokesperson and an official familiar with the decision confirmed Tuesday, Oct. 20. Kaplan has been a central figure in Meta’s lobbying and public-relations operations since 2011. He took over as chief global affairs officer in January 2025, after years of involvement in the company’s approach to speech, misinformation and artificial intelligence. Before joining Meta, Kaplan served as deputy chief of staff for policy under President George W. Bush. In 2016, he reportedly argued for a lighter touch in content moderation, warning that strict enforcement could disproportionately affect conservative viewpoints on the company’s platforms. His departure will bring a major change to Meta’s Washington operation as the company continues to face scrutiny over how it governs speech and handles emerging technologies. Meta has not announced a successor.