Meta Faces Landmark Antitrust Trial That Could Force Sale of Instagram and WhatsApp

73 posts • OpenAI (o1)

Updated Apr 14, 2025, 11:59 AM

Meta Platforms Inc., the parent company of Facebook, is set to face a landmark antitrust trial beginning Monday in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Meta abused its market power by acquiring Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 to eliminate potential competition. The trial could result in Meta being forced to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, significantly altering the social media landscape. The FTC contends that these acquisitions were illegal moves designed to suppress competition and maintain Meta's monopoly in the personal social networking market. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, may be called to testify during the proceedings. Legal experts suggest that the case could be a turning point for antitrust enforcement against big tech companies, potentially reshaping how they grow and acquire competitors. Meta denies the allegations, arguing that its acquisitions have benefited consumers and that Instagram and WhatsApp face strong competition from other platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and X. The company asserts that the FTC's lawsuit overlooks the reality of a competitive social media market.

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ABC News

@ABC

Meta Platforms Inc. faces a historic antitrust trial beginning Monday that could force the tech giant to break off Instagram and WhatsApp, startups it bought more than a decade ago that have since grown into social media powerhouses. Read more: https://t.co/5QgxtvUMB4 https://t.co/BbE9Oshbeo

AFP News Agency

@AFP

Social media giant Meta is set to stand trial on Monday facing serious US government allegations that it abused its market power to acquire Instagram and WhatsApp before they could become competitors ➡️ https://t.co/RbfapeOexm https://t.co/KkptcPM43R

Techmeme

@Techmeme

Legal experts: Meta's FTC antitrust trial, where Mark Zuckerberg could take the stand as early as today, is set to be more grueling than Congressional hearings (New York Times) https://t.co/xYbFgsiJJe https://t.co/CETvhIQxGU https://t.co/ZOzeer2dpR

FRANCE 24 Français

@France24_fr

Abuse of dominant position: Meta sued to keep Instagram and Whatsapp https://t.co/u4voDIaMG0 https://t.co/pvQmjg7qU0

Le Parisien

@le_Parisien

Mark Zuckerberg did everything he could to avoid this trial His company Meta is expected in court this Monday for the opening of a high-stakes trial. If the social media giant loses, it could be forced to part ways with Instagram and WhatsApp ➡️ https://t.co/ZeigA075Sq https://t.co/mCxfbj0aUK

#Facebook #United States #Federal Trade Commission #FTC #Meta #Instagram #WhatsApp #Mark Zuckerberg #TikTok #YouTube

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Sources

bbc.com(3)france24.com(3)abcnews.go.com(2)rfi.fr(2)

The Hill

@thehill

Trump FTC faces first major test with Meta trial https://t.co/VENwqqqz0l

The Hindu

@the_hindu

Social media juggernaut #Meta stands trial on Monday facing serious U.S. government allegations that it abused its market power to acquire #Instagram and #WhatsApp before they could become competitors. https://t.co/oU0lIRJKMf