Meta Faces FTC in Landmark Antitrust Trial Over Instagram and WhatsApp Acquisitions

The trial, which began on April 11, 2025, could lead to a forced breakup of Meta's platforms and reshape antitrust enforcement in the tech industry.

The Federal Trade Commission alleges that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram (2012) and WhatsApp (2014) enabled the company to monopolize the personal social networking market by neutralizing competitors.
Meta executives, including CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg, are set to testify alongside leaders from rival companies like TikTok and YouTube.
A central issue in the trial is the definition of the personal social networking market, with the FTC arguing Meta faces no significant competition in this space, while Meta claims it competes with platforms like TikTok and iMessage.
The trial follows years of legal battles, including the FTC’s initial case dismissal in 2021 and its revival in 2022 after an amended complaint provided more detailed evidence.
The outcome could have far-reaching implications, potentially forcing Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp and influencing future antitrust cases in the tech sector.