Meta Faces Antitrust Trial Over Instagram and WhatsApp Acquisitions
Deal News | Apr 15, 2025 | EIN
Meta's CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in an antitrust trial initiated by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that challenges the company's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC accuses Meta of monopolizing the social media market by eliminating competition through these acquisitions. The trial could redefine antitrust perspectives on tech mergers if Meta is forced to break up. During his testimony, Zuckerberg defended the acquisitions as innovation-driven, while FTC litigator Daniel Matheson alleged that Meta's strategy limited consumer choice. Matheson utilized internal emails to argue Meta's intent to weaken competitive threats. Meta's defense counters by claiming that it competes with various platforms and points out past regulatory approval of the acquisitions. If the FTC succeeds, Meta might need to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp, potentially disrupting its business model.
Sectors
- Technology
- Legal Services
- Social Networking
Geography
- United States – The legal proceedings and accusations by the FTC against Meta are taking place in the United States, involving US laws and regulations.
Industry
- Technology – The article is centered on Meta, a major player in the technology industry, particularly in social media and technology platforms.
- Legal Services – The article discusses an antitrust legal case between Meta and the FTC, heavily involving legal arguments and proceedings.
- Social Networking – The focus of the trial is on Meta's acquisition of social networking platforms Instagram and WhatsApp.
Financials
- $1.4 trillion – Market valuation of Meta, indicating the scale of the company involved in the trial.
- Over half of US ad revenue in 2025 – Projected contribution of Instagram to Meta's US advertising revenue.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta | Defendant | Company | Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly Facebook, Inc., the company being faced with antitrust charges. |
| Mark Zuckerberg | CEO and Witness | People | Chief Executive Officer of Meta, testifying in the trial. |
| US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | Accuser | Government | U.S. government agency suing Meta over antitrust concerns. |
| Daniel Matheson | Litigator | People | FTC's top litigator arguing against Meta's acquisitions. |
| Sheryl Sandberg | Witness | People | Former COO of Meta expected to testify in the trial. |
| Kevin Systrom | Witness | People | Instagram co-founder expected to appear as a witness. |
| Acquired Company | Company | Social networking platform acquired by Meta in 2012, central to the trial. | |
| Acquired Company | Company | Messaging service acquired by Meta in 2014, involved in the trial. |