Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has asked a federal judge to dismiss the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) lawsuit accusing it of holding an illegal monopoly in social media. The request was made on Thursday, as the high-profile antitrust trial continues in Washington.
The FTC’s case focuses on Meta’s past acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The agency argues these deals were meant to eliminate competitors and gave Meta an unfair monopoly over social media platforms used for sharing updates with friends and family. The FTC wants the court to undo those acquisitions, which happened over ten years ago.
If the judge agrees to dismiss the case now, it could end the trial early. However, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg may decide to let the trial proceed. Meta is currently presenting its evidence, and the trial could last into June.
A spokesperson for the FTC did not immediately comment on Meta’s request.
Meta’s defense highlights that WhatsApp was not planning to become a social network rival before the acquisition. According to Meta, CEO Mark Zuckerberg was aware of this before the deal closed. The company also said evidence shows Instagram grew significantly after Meta bought it.
Meta also argued that the FTC failed to clearly separate apps used mainly for sharing with friends and family—like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat—from platforms like TikTok. Meta claims it had to copy TikTok’s features to stay competitive.
The FTC maintains that platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, YouTube, and Reddit serve different purposes and audiences compared to Meta’s apps. The FTC said these platforms focus more on broadcasting content to strangers based on interests, rather than private sharing among friends.
Meta responded by saying all these apps compete to capture user attention by showing the most engaging content.
If the judge does not dismiss the case, both sides will submit final written arguments and give closing statements after Meta finishes its presentation. Should the judge rule that Meta holds an illegal monopoly, the trial would move to a second phase. That phase would focus on deciding what actions to take against the company.
Related topics:
