Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, will proceed to trial after a Washington judge denied its motion to dismiss an antitrust case brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
The FTC alleges that Meta's acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were intended to eliminate competition in the social media market rather than foster innovation. The agency claims that Meta overpaid for these platforms to neutralize potential threats to its dominance.
Judge James Boasberg dismissed only one of the FTC's claims but allowed the case to move forward, indicating that the acquisitions will be scrutinized during the trial. A separate claim regarding Facebook's alleged restrictions on third-party app developers was also dismissed.
In response, a Meta spokesperson expressed confidence that evidence presented at trial will demonstrate the acquisitions were beneficial for competition and consumers.
This case is part of a broader trend of antitrust actions against major tech companies, including Amazon, Apple, and Google. The FTC has stated that its efforts aim to curb Meta's monopoly power and restore competition in the social media landscape.
No date has been set for the trial, but a final ruling from Judge Boasberg is expected soon after both parties address sensitive commercial information.