Overview

• The FTC is seeking to force Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp, alleging the acquisitions were made to stifle competition and establish a monopoly in personal social networks.
• Internal emails from Mark Zuckerberg, presented in court, reveal early recognition of competitive threats and motivations behind the acquisitions, including describing Instagram as a 'danger' to Meta's dominance.
• Zuckerberg admitted to considering divesting Instagram in 2018 due to regulatory pressures, though the company ultimately pursued deeper integration of its platforms.
• Settlement negotiations have escalated, with Meta increasing its offer from $450 million to nearly $1 billion, while the FTC demands substantially higher penalties and structural remedies.
• Meta argues that the FTC's definition of monopoly is too narrow, excluding major competitors like TikTok, and contends that its platforms now focus more on entertainment and interests rather than personal connections.