A federal judge allows the FTC lawsuit against Meta to proceed, alleging that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were aimed at crushing rivals
In a case brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) against Facebook (now Meta) for alleged antitrust violations, Judge James Boasberg of the District of Columbia Court has allowed the case to proceed.
Case 1:20-cv-03590-JEB Document 383 Filed 11/13/24
(PDF file)
Meta will face antitrust trial over Instagram, WhatsApp acquisitions | Reuters
Meta faces antitrust lawsuit over Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions | Reuters
https://jp.reuters.com/world/us/MHE46L6IGVMVNNQT3KHJCQIYWQ-2024-11-13/
FTC gets green light to continue its antitrust case against Meta - The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/11/13/meta-ftc-antitrust/
Meta must face FTC trial that could separate Instagram and WhatsApp - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2024/11/13/24295637/meta-must-face-ftc-antitrust-trial-instagram-whatsapp
In December 2020, the FTC filed a lawsuit against Facebook (hereafter referred to as Meta, which was
The FTC alleges that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were designed to crush competitors in order to protect its monopoly.
Facebook indicted for antitrust violations, demands to sell Instagram and WhatsApp - GIGAZINE
Meta countered by arguing that the FTC approved both acquisitions and that the FTC has not shown that Meta has a monopoly in the social media market or that the acquisitions caused consumer harm. It also argued that Meta has made significant investments in Instagram and WhatsApp, providing benefits to users around the world.
Judge Boasberg of the District of Columbia District Court dismissed the FTC's lawsuit in June 2021, but the FTC amended its complaint and refiled it before the deadline. Meta also sought to have the complaint dismissed again.
Judge Boasberg said the lawsuit was 'stumped from the get-go, but the revised version is much more robust and factually detailed. ' He denied Meta's request to dismiss the lawsuit and allowed the case to proceed.
However, the FTC's argument that Meta sought to protect its dominant position by restricting access to developers who did not enter into a covenant not to compete was rejected.
'We are confident that the trial will show that our acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were good for consumers,' Meta spokesman Christopher Seguro told The Verge. 'More than a decade has passed since the FTC investigated and approved our acquisitions, and there is clear evidence that Meta competes with YouTube, TikTok, iMessage, and many other services. Yet the FTC continues to falsely claim that any agreement is not final and that companies can be punished for innovating.'
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