Overview
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg dismissed the FTC’s case, finding the agency failed to prove Meta now holds monopoly power in the defined market.
- The ruling means no court‑ordered divestitures of Instagram or WhatsApp, though the FTC said it is deeply disappointed and is reviewing a possible appeal.
- Boasberg cited time‑spent data and the rise of short‑form, algorithmic video to conclude TikTok and YouTube compete directly with Meta’s apps.
- The judge noted that even excluding YouTube, TikTok’s inclusion defeats the FTC’s market theory, given users treat the platforms as substitutes.
- The seven‑week bench trial featured testimony from Mark Zuckerberg and other Meta leaders, and the outcome marks a significant setback for recent Big Tech antitrust efforts.