Meta wins antitrust case, and won’t have to give up WhatsApp or Instagram

Meta has Won the antitrust case v. Federal Trade Commission. The Federal Trade Commission said that Meta illegally monopolized social media networks, focusing on the company’s acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram.

Judge James Bosberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a… Opinion note TuesdayPointing out that the Federal Trade Commission failed to prove its allegations in court.

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“Whether or not MITA had monopoly power in the past, the agency must demonstrate that it still maintains that power now,” Boasberg wrote in the filing.

Boasberg initially dismissed the FTC’s complaint in 2021, stating that the agency lacked sufficient evidence that Meta possessed “market power” in the social networking industry. At the time, the FTC said that Facebook’s “course of conduct has eliminated emerging competitors,” preventing “the benefits of competition, including increased choice, quality, and innovation” from developing for U.S. social media users.

After the FTC amended its filing with information about Meta’s user numbers and its acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram, Boasberg allowed the case to continue in 2022.

The trial has begun In April, several current and former high-ranking Meta executives testified in court — including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Much of Zuckerberg’s testimony focused on… Refuting the FTC’s initial claimwhich was based on the argument made by Zuckerberg in 2008: “It is better to buy than to compete.”

Meta’s win means the company will be able to continue operating WhatsApp and Instagram unhindered. If the FTC proves its claims in court, Meta would likely have to spin off these apps into its own separate social networking companies.

Meta issued a public statement on Tuesday, saying the decision “acknowledges that Meta faces fierce competition” in the social networking industry.

“Our products benefit individuals and businesses and embody American innovation and economic growth,” the statement read. “We look forward to continuing to partner with management and invest in America.”

Joe Simonson, the FTC’s director of public affairs, said the agency is “deeply disappointed” with the outcome of the case.

“The odds were always against us with Judge Boasberg, who is currently facing articles of impeachment,” he said. “We are reviewing all our options.”

Republican lawmakers have tried several times to do thisMbitch BoasbergIt is a frequent policy target of the Trump administration.

Although Meta’s antitrust case is over, it did not occur in a vacuum. Google The case was recently settled With the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which led to the search giant being told that it must share limited user search and interaction data with “qualified competitors.” Target another case Google AI Overview feature Ongoing in the European Union, where a group of publishers claim the company is causing harm due to lost traffic, readers and revenue.