Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has requested that a federal judge dismiss the antitrust lawsuit brought against it by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The company argues that the FTC has not substantiated its claims regarding an illegal monopoly within the social media sector.
The antitrust trial, which commenced on April 14 in Washington, centers on the FTC’s allegations that Meta, previously known as Facebook, unlawfully secured its dominance in the social media market through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The commission seeks to reverse these acquisitions, which took place over a decade ago.
A favorable ruling for Meta could expedite the conclusion of the case, although US District Judge James Boasberg may choose not to address the request. Currently, Meta is presenting its own evidence, with the trial potentially extending into June.
The FTC has aimed to demonstrate that these acquisitions were intended to eliminate emerging competitors, citing communications from CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressing concern about the rapid growth of Instagram and WhatsApp.
However, evidence presented during the trial revealed that WhatsApp did not have ambitions to transition into a social networking competitor to Facebook, a fact known to Zuckerberg prior to the completion of the acquisition. Testimonies also indicated that Instagram’s growth continued after it was acquired, according to Meta’s claims.
Furthermore, Meta contended that the FTC has not effectively distinguished between social media apps designed for personal connections, including Snapchat and Instagram, and platforms like TikTok that have compelled Meta to adapt its strategies in order to remain competitive.
The FTC maintains that platforms where users can share content with a broader audience based on common interests, such as TikTok, X, YouTube, and Reddit, are not interchangeably similar to those prioritizing personal interactions.
“The common thread among these social applications is their competition to present engaging user-generated content to capture user attention and time from each other, including Meta’s services,” the company asserted.
If Judge Boasberg denies Meta’s request, both Meta and the FTC will soon submit final briefs and present closing arguments once the company concludes its evidence presentation.
Should the judge determine that Meta has indeed established an illegal monopoly, a subsequent trial will address the necessary remedial actions.
© Thomson Reuters 2025
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
