Court rejects FTC’s push to break up Meta over Instagram and WhatsApp
A US federal judge has dismissed a major antitrust case against Meta, ruling that the company does not hold a monopoly in social networking. The decision blocks efforts by regulators to force Meta to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp after a lengthy legal battle.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) first sued Meta in 2020, claiming its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp violated antitrust laws. The case went to trial, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying over seven weeks. He argued that Meta faces strong competition from platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Judge James Boasberg delivered his verdict on Tuesday, rejecting the FTC’s core argument. He found no evidence that Meta operates as a monopoly in the social media market. As a result, the court refused to order the divestiture of Instagram and WhatsApp, dealing a significant blow to the regulator’s case.
The ruling means Meta will retain ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp without forced changes. The FTC’s push to break up the company has ended, at least for now. Legal experts suggest the decision could shape future antitrust actions against major tech firms.
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