Overview

• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a trial against Meta, alleging its acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were aimed at eliminating competition and maintaining a monopoly.
• The FTC seeks to force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, arguing that the acquisitions were part of a broader strategy to neutralize potential competitors rather than compete fairly.
• Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on the first day of the trial, defending the acquisitions as regulatory-approved moves that spurred innovation and transformed the platforms into global leaders.
• The trial hinges on the FTC's claim that Meta dominates the 'personal social networking' market, though Meta argues it faces significant competition from platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter).
• The case is part of a broader governmental push to regulate Big Tech, with potential outcomes including a forced breakup of Meta's assets, which could significantly impact its business model and revenue.