Instagram CEO Testifies in FTC Trial Alleging Meta Monopoly

The ongoing FTC antitrust trial against Meta centers on allegations that the company unlawfully monopolized the social networking market through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, with potential consequences including the forced divestiture of these platforms. Instagram chief Adam Mosseri testified about internal conflicts with the platform's founders, Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, who left due to disagreements over growth constraints imposed by Facebook leadership, as well as Instagram's inadequate initial response to TikTok's rise. The FTC presented internal documents revealing that Instagram's automated algorithms recommended minors to potential predators, highlighting significant safety concerns and alleged underinvestment in user protection. Evidence and testimony suggest Mark Zuckerberg deliberately limited Instagram’s safety resources to maintain Facebook's dominance. The trial, presided over by Judge James Boasberg, includes testimony from more than two dozen witnesses and could lead to one of the most significant antitrust rulings against Big Tech in decades.