Meta to Face FTC Antitrust Trial Seeking Breakup Over Instagram, WhatsApp Deals

Nov 13, 2024, 03:11 PM

Facebook owner Meta Platforms must face a trial in a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit seeking to break up the company over allegations that it bought Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate competition in the social media market. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C., ruled that the FTC's antitrust case against Meta, originally filed in December 2020, can proceed to trial. FTC Chair Lina Khan has been pursuing the case initiated by the previous administration. The lawsuit accuses Meta of monopolizing personal social networking services through its acquisition of rival platforms Instagram and WhatsApp. Notably, the judge ruled that Meta can't argue at trial that the WhatsApp acquisition boosted competition by strengthening its position against Apple and Google. While some allegations were dismissed, the core antitrust claims were allowed to move forward. The trial could potentially result in Meta being forced to divest Instagram and WhatsApp.