Zuckerberg Defends Meta Acquisitions in Landmark Antitrust Trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended the company's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp in a US antitrust trial, arguing that they were driven by the value these companies offered, rather than an intent to eliminate competition as alleged by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Zuckerberg emphasized that Meta faces ongoing, intense competition from platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, challenging the FTC's claim that Meta holds a monopoly in the social networking space. He acknowledged being alarmed by Instagram's growth at the time, but maintained that understanding competitors is a crucial part of innovation and business strategy. The FTC, however, contends that Meta used its dominance to stifle competition and cites internal emails as evidence Zuckerberg sought to neutralize competitive threats. The outcome of the trial could force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, potentially reshaping the social media landscape. This case highlights the broader regulatory scrutiny facing Big Tech and signals possible shifts toward a more competitive digital market.