Meta recently filed a motion with the court requesting an early ruling in the ongoing antitrust case brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC accused Meta of illegally monopolizing the social networking market through acquisitions such as Instagram and WhatsApp. Meta argued that after five weeks of trial, the FTC failed to provide sufficient evidence to substantiate its claims.
Meta spokesperson Christopher Sgro stated: "Clearly, the FTC has not met the legal standards required by antitrust law." He also emphasized that Meta will present evidence during the trial to show that every 17-year-old knows Instagram is in competition with TikTok, YouTube, and several other applications. He criticized the FTC for spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars on this case, arguing that the market definition in this case is completely detached from reality.
Meta's motion was submitted after the FTC concluded its case presentation. Despite this, the trial continues, and Meta will now proceed to defend against the FTC's accusations. In its defense, Meta specifically questioned the FTC's characterization of Meta's monopoly over the "personal social networking services" market, arguing that the FTC failed to prove that Meta reduced service quality, which is a key sign of lack of competition. Additionally, Meta denied that its acquisition of Instagram was intended to weaken potential competitors.
During the trial, the FTC relied on testimonies from several Meta executives to build its case, including Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom, who criticized Meta's management approach. Meanwhile, current Instagram head Adam Mosseri expressed a more optimistic view. Meta emphasized that the company always faces severe challenges from competitors like TikTok, especially in attracting younger users.
Key points:
🛑 Meta requested the judge for an early ruling, stating that the FTC failed to provide effective evidence.
📊 The trial continues, and Meta will defend itself.
📱 The FTC used executive testimonies to support its case, while Meta emphasized its competitive relationship with TikTok and others.