Mark Zuckerberg. Photo: Getty images
On Monday, a high-profile antitrust trial against Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, was launched in Washington, D.C. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accuses the tech giant of illegally creating a monopoly in the social media market through the acquisition of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. This was reported by Reuters.
The stakes are high: Meta could be forced to sell these key services. The process, initiated back in 2020, is part of a broader fight by the US government against the influence of “big tech”. Meta itself calls the charges “weak” and politically motivated.
Zuckerberg in the witness box: Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify in person in the case. The prosecutor’s office is focused on his emails, where he offered to buy Instagram to “neutralise” the competition.
Possible consequences: According to Emarketer, Instagram generates more than half of Meta’s advertising revenue in the US. The loss of the platform could hurt the company’s profits.
Amid the growing popularity of TikTok, YouTube, and Apple Messages, Meta argues that competition in the social media sector has only increased. However, the FTC insists: Meta has a monopoly in the niche of platforms for communicating with friends and family.
The process could last until July. If the FTC wins, another court order will be required to force Meta to sell off its assets.
