Sheryl Sandberg Testifies at Meta Antitrust Trial, Details Ad Blocking Strategy

Former Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg testified in a landmark federal antitrust trial that the company had considered blocking advertisements from emerging competitors, such as Google Plus, KakaoTalk, and LINE, on Facebook. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) argues that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were part of a broader strategy to stifle competition and solidify a social media monopoly, a claim supported by evidence that executives saw rivals as significant threats. Sandberg countered that Meta nurtured and grew Instagram post-acquisition and pointed out that the company faced intense competition from platforms like TikTok, which threatened its advertising revenue. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the acquisitions as value-driven decisions, citing a 'build vs. buy' analysis and denying that the motivation was to eliminate competitors. The FTC is seeking a breakup of Meta if it wins the case, which could set a major precedent for future tech industry regulation. Meta maintains that it faces competition from a wide range of social media companies, not just those the FTC identifies.