Meta antitrust trial: updates from the monopoly battle with the FTC

Meta is set to go on trial on April 14th against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over allegations that it illegally monopolized the market for personal social networking services through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The FTC first brought the case in late 2020, but it was initially thrown out by a judge. However, an amended version of the case moved forward after the government provided more details about Meta’s alleged monopoly.
The trial will help determine if Meta is liable for breaking antitrust laws and whether it should be broken up as a remedy. The outcome could have significant implications for the tech industry and Meta’s business model.
This is the third high-profile antitrust trial in recent years, following separate cases against Google over its search and ad tech businesses. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has personally lobbied President Donald Trump to try to avoid this trial.
The outcome of the trial could set a precedent for future antitrust cases involving large tech companies and their acquisitions. The judge’s decision will have significant implications for Meta, Facebook, and the broader tech industry.

A long-awaited trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission kicks off on April 14th. Over about two months, DC District Court Judge James Boasberg will hear arguments about whether Facebook illegally monopolized the market for personal social networking services through its 2012 and 2014 acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

The FTC first brought the case in late 2020, and while it was initially thrown out by the judge, he let an amended version move forward because the government had beefed up details about why Meta is allegedly a monopoly. This phase of the trial will help the judge determine if Meta is liable for breaking antitrust laws. If he finds it is, he’ll later rule on how its harms should be remedies — including potentially by breaking it up.

The Meta trial is the third trial seeking to break up a tech monopoly in recent years, following the Justice Department’s two separate cases against Google over its search and ad tech businesses. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has personally lobbied President Donald Trump to try to avoid the trial.

Read below for all of our updates on the case.

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Q. When does the trial between Meta and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) start?

A. The trial starts on April 14th.

Q. What is the main issue being heard in this trial?

A. Whether Facebook (Meta) illegally monopolized the market for personal social networking services through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Q. Why was the initial version of the FTC’s case thrown out by the judge?

A. The judge initially threw out the case, but later allowed an amended version to move forward after the government provided more details about why Meta is allegedly a monopoly.

Q. What will happen if the judge finds Meta liable for breaking antitrust laws?

A. If the judge finds Meta liable, he’ll later rule on how its harms should be remedies, potentially including breaking it up.

Q. How many trials are there seeking to break up tech monopolies in recent years?

A. There have been three trials: this one against Meta, two separate cases against Google over its search and ad tech businesses.

Q. Has CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally lobbied President Donald Trump to avoid the trial?

A. Yes, he has personally lobbied President Trump to try to avoid the trial.

Q. What is the FTC’s goal in suing Facebook (Meta)?

A. The FTC is suing Facebook to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Q. Has the judge allowed the FTC’s case to move forward despite CEO Zuckerberg’s lobbying efforts?

A. Yes, Judge James Boasberg has allowed the FTC’s case to move forward.

Q. What happened in a previous court ruling related to this case?

A. A federal court dismissed the FTC’s bid to unwind Instagram from Facebook.

Q. Who is presiding over the trial?

A. DC District Court Judge James Boasberg is presiding over the trial.