Meta must face FTC antitrust trial over purchasing Instagram and WhatsApp

Nov 13

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Jodie Hawkins (Senior Video Producer), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

After several years of back and forth, Meta will face trial in the antitrust case brought on by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the company’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. A federal judge denied Meta’s request Wednesday, Nov. 13, to drop the FTC’s case, which accuses Meta of buying the two social media platforms to crush emerging competition in social media.

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Meta has argued the entire case should be dismissed on grounds that the company faces competition from apps like TikTok.

The FTC originally filed the antitrust lawsuit against Facebook, which is now underneath Meta, in 2020, accusing it of illegally maintaining a monopoly.

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The case was dismissed in 2021, but the FTC later filed an amended complaint.

A Meta spokesperson commented on the judge’s decision Wednesday, Nov. 13.

“We are confident that the evidence at trial will show that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp have been good for competition and consumers,” the spokesperson said.

A hearing to discuss a trial date is set for later this month.

Tags: antitrust, Facebook, Federal Trade Commission, FTC, Instagram, Instagram, Lawsuit, Meta, Monopoly, Social Media, WhatsApp

[Karah Rucker]

AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF BACK AND FORTH … META IS NOW FACING TRIAL IN THE ANTI-TRUST CASE BROUGHT ON BY THE F-T-C OVER THE COMPANY’S ACQUISITIONS OF INSTAGRAM AND WHATS APP.

A FEDERAL JUDGE WEDNESDAY … DENYING META’S REQUEST TO DROP THE F-T-C’S CASE, WHICH ACCUSES META OF BUYING THE TWO SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO CRUSH EMERGING COMPETITION IN SOCIAL MEDIA.

META HAS ARGUED THE ENTIRE CASE SHOULD BE DISMISSED ON GROUNDS THAT THE COMPANY FACES COMPETITION FROM APPS LIKE TIK-TOK.

THE F-T-C ORIGINALLY SUED FACEBOOK – WHICH IS NOW UNDERNEATH META – IN 20-20, ACCUSING IT OF ILLEGALLY MAINTAINING A MONOPOLY.

THE CASE WAS DISMISSED IN 20-21, BUT THE F-T-C LATER FILED AN AMENDED COMPLAINT.

A META SPOKESPERSON SAYING …

“WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT THE EVIDENCE AT TRIAL WILL SHOW THAT THE ACQUISITIONS OF INSTAGRAM AND WHATSAPP HAVE BEEN GOOD FOR COMPETITION AND CONSUMERS.”

A HEARING TO DISCUSS A TRIAL DATE IS SET FOR LATER THIS MONTH.

FOR SAN – I’M KARAH RUCKER.

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