FTC Seeks Meta Divestiture in Antitrust Trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently testified in an antitrust trial where the FTC seeks to force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, alleging the acquisitions were made to stifle competition. Prior to the trial, Zuckerberg attempted to settle, offering up to $1 billion, but the FTC demanded at least $18 billion and a consent decree. Internal documents revealed that Zuckerberg had once considered spinning off Instagram in anticipation of regulatory scrutiny. Meta argues that the rise of competitors like TikTok shows the social media market is no longer dominated by Meta. If the FTC succeeds, Meta could be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp, which are major sources of its ad revenue. Experts say the FTC faces challenges given the time that has passed since the acquisitions and changes in the industry.