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U.S. Judge Throws Out FTC Antitrust Case Against Meta
(MENAFN) A U.S. federal judge has thrown out an antitrust challenge targeting Meta, ruling that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) failed to demonstrate the company holds an illegal monopoly in social networking.
In a decision issued in Washington, Judge James Boasberg determined that regulators did not substantiate claims that Meta cemented market dominance by acquiring emerging rivals WhatsApp and Instagram.
“The court ultimately finds that YouTube and TikTok belong in the product market, and they prevent Meta from holding a monopoly,” Boasberg wrote. “Even if YouTube is out, including TikTok alone defeats the FTC’s case.”
The ruling found that Meta does not control the relevant market and therefore cannot be deemed a monopolist.
The FTC first filed suit in 2020, asserting that Meta unlawfully tightened its grip on social media through its $1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012 and its $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp two years later.
Meta, which also operates Facebook and Threads, has consistently denied the allegations.
In a decision issued in Washington, Judge James Boasberg determined that regulators did not substantiate claims that Meta cemented market dominance by acquiring emerging rivals WhatsApp and Instagram.
“The court ultimately finds that YouTube and TikTok belong in the product market, and they prevent Meta from holding a monopoly,” Boasberg wrote. “Even if YouTube is out, including TikTok alone defeats the FTC’s case.”
The ruling found that Meta does not control the relevant market and therefore cannot be deemed a monopolist.
The FTC first filed suit in 2020, asserting that Meta unlawfully tightened its grip on social media through its $1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012 and its $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp two years later.
Meta, which also operates Facebook and Threads, has consistently denied the allegations.
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