Meta is set to face off against the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a high-stakes antitrust trial that could result in the company divesting Instagram and WhatsApp. The trial, which is expected to last several weeks, centers around the FTC’s allegations that Meta monopolizes the personal social networking market.
The FTC claims that Meta should not have been allowed to buy Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014, and that the agency is calling for those units to be sliced off from the company. The commission argues that acquiring these competitive threats has enabled Facebook to sustain its dominance, harming competition and users.
Meta disagrees, reiterating its arguments that it is not a monopoly and that acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp has not harmed competition. The trial will test the boundaries of US antitrust laws pertaining to corporate acquisitions, with experts saying it has big implications for consumers who use these platforms as part of their daily life.
The lead-up to the trial saw the FTC file its case in 2020, but it was initially dismissed due to lack of evidence. However, the agency amended its complaint and Boasberg, the US District Court judge, ruled that the case could proceed. Meta had previously motioned to end the case, but Boasberg denied it.
The outcome of this trial is uncertain, with some experts suggesting that Trump’s new pick for FTC chair, Andrew Ferguson, may ease up on antitrust enforcement. The case has significant implications for the tech industry and its impact will be closely watched by consumers and regulators alike.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/11/ftc-meta-instagram-whatsapp-lawsuit.html