Meta Faces Antitrust Trial Over Instagram, WhatsApp Acquisitions

The landmark antitrust trial against Meta, initiated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), began this week in Washington, D.C., with CEO Mark Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg set to testify. The FTC alleges that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were part of a strategy to eliminate competition and maintain its monopoly in social media, thereby harming consumers. If the FTC wins, the court could order Meta to divest these key assets, potentially reshaping the company's future. The trial is presided over by Judge James Boasberg and may last several weeks, with experts suggesting that Zuckerberg's own communications may serve as critical evidence. Meta argues that the acquisitions have improved user experiences and that intent is not a key factor in antitrust cases. The trial comes amid concerns over the increasing consolidation of power by Big Tech companies, following a similar case against Google.