The FTC vs Meta trial started yesterday, and they’re going after the company’s ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp. If this goes badly for Zuckerberg, Meta could be forced to split them off entirely.
The FTC’s argument is that Facebook’s buyouts were “killer acquisitions” meant to kill competition before it became a threat. Meta’s argument is basically “that was over a decade ago, and we made those platforms better.” It’s now up to a judge who’s openly admitted he’s never used Meta products and doesn’t understand why people click 'Like' on posts.
The case is also being watched closely because it’s the first big test for the FTC under Trump’s second term. He fired the two Democratic commissioners in March. Now it’s a Republican-led agency pursuing a case that started years ago. So yes, the politics are baked in.
This is also a fight over how to even define the market. The FTC says Meta dominates personal social networks. Meta says that’s a fake category and that it competes with TikTok, YouTube, X, and everyone else fighting for your attention. If the judge sides with the FTC, the next phase decides what to do about it. That could mean breaking the company up. Or it could drag on for years and end in a settlement no one’s happy with.
For anyone who uses Instagram, WhatsApp or Facebook daily, the outcome of this trial could fundamentally change how these platforms operate. Or it could do absolutely nothing. Jury’s still out.
Like most things legal, expect this to drag out for years. The only people who are sure to benefit are the lawyers.
The FTC’s argument is that Facebook’s buyouts were “killer acquisitions” meant to kill competition before it became a threat. Meta’s argument is basically “that was over a decade ago, and we made those platforms better.” It’s now up to a judge who’s openly admitted he’s never used Meta products and doesn’t understand why people click 'Like' on posts.
The case is also being watched closely because it’s the first big test for the FTC under Trump’s second term. He fired the two Democratic commissioners in March. Now it’s a Republican-led agency pursuing a case that started years ago. So yes, the politics are baked in.
This is also a fight over how to even define the market. The FTC says Meta dominates personal social networks. Meta says that’s a fake category and that it competes with TikTok, YouTube, X, and everyone else fighting for your attention. If the judge sides with the FTC, the next phase decides what to do about it. That could mean breaking the company up. Or it could drag on for years and end in a settlement no one’s happy with.
For anyone who uses Instagram, WhatsApp or Facebook daily, the outcome of this trial could fundamentally change how these platforms operate. Or it could do absolutely nothing. Jury’s still out.
Like most things legal, expect this to drag out for years. The only people who are sure to benefit are the lawyers.