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2w ago

FTC's Antitrust Trial Against Meta Begins in Washington

The trial will examine whether Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were intended to suppress competition and establish a monopoly in the social media market.

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Die US-Handelsbehörde wirft Meta vor - seine Marktmacht auszunutzen
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Overview

  • The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Meta acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 to eliminate competition and strengthen its monopolistic position in the social media industry.
  • The trial, which began on April 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C., marks a significant escalation in the FTC's efforts to challenge Meta's market dominance.
  • Internal emails from Mark Zuckerberg are being used as evidence to support claims that the acquisitions were strategically motivated to neutralize potential threats to Meta's market position.
  • Meta denies the allegations, arguing that its acquisitions have enhanced user experiences and that it faces strong competition from platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Snapchat.
  • This case is part of a broader regulatory crackdown on major tech companies, with the outcome potentially setting a precedent for future antitrust actions in the tech industry.