Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand this week to defend the tech giant against a landmark antitrust lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which seeks to break up the company by forcing the sale of Instagram and WhatsApp. The case, first filed in 2020, accuses Meta of illegally monopolizing social media through its acquisitions of Instagram (2012) and WhatsApp (2014), allegedly stifling competition.
In his testimony, Zuckerberg dismissed claims that Meta bought Instagram to eliminate a rival, arguing instead that the acquisition was driven by its camera technology. He acknowledged internal emails expressing concerns about competition but framed them as early exploratory discussions. The FTC, however, cited a 2012 memo where Zuckerberg discussed “neutralizing” Instagram as evidence of anti-competitive intent, calling it a “smoking gun.”
The FTC alleges Meta overpaid for both apps as a defensive strategy. “They decided buying rivals was easier than competing,” said FTC lawyer Daniel Matheson. Meta countered that the acquisitions—previously approved by the FTC—helped improve the apps and expand user benefits. “Acquisitions to grow services have never been ruled illegal,” Meta’s attorney argued.
The trial comes amid heightened scrutiny of Big Tech, with the U.S. also pursuing a monopoly case against Google. Last year, a judge ruled Google dominates online search (90% market share), and the DOJ is now pushing to dismantle its search business. Meanwhile, Amazon and Apple face their own antitrust battles.
Legal experts say the FTC faces an uphill battle. Laura Phillips-Sawyer, a business law professor, notes that Meta’s market personal networking has more competition (TikTok, X, YouTube) than Google’s search dominance. Proving Instagram and WhatsApp harmed consumers will be key.
The case also intersects with politics. Meta has courted Trump allies, adding UFC’s Dana White to its board and settling a $25M lawsuit with Trump over his suspended accounts. Reports suggest Zuckerberg lobbied Trump to pressure the FTC, though Meta denies improper influence.
With the trial expected to last months, the outcome could reshape social media—and set a precedent for how regulators tackle tech monopolies.
