In a major legal victory that could reshape future tech regulation, Mark Zuckerberg prevailed in the high-profile Meta Antitrust trial brought by the Federal Trade Commission. The ruling, issued Tuesday by a Washington, D.C. federal judge, determined that the FTC failed to prove the company holds a current monopoly in the social networking market.
Judge Says Meta Antitrust Trial Showed No Current Monopoly
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg concluded that the FTC did not meet the burden of demonstrating that Meta currently exerts monopoly power—regardless of what may have occurred in the past.
“Whether or not Meta enjoyed monopoly power in the past, the agency must show that it continues to hold such power now,” Boasberg wrote. “The Court’s verdict today determines that the FTC has not done so.”
The FTC had sought to unwind Meta’s landmark acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, alleging that the purchases were part of a broader effort to eliminate competitors and dominate the online social space.
Instagram sale background: Facebook Buying Instagram for $1 Billion- WhatsApp business strategy: Meta’s WhatsApp is chasing big businesses to capitalize on popularity
The original complaint was filed five years ago but faced setbacks. In 2021, Boasberg dismissed the case, saying the FTC lacked sufficient evidence that “Facebook holds market power.” The agency later submitted an amended complaint with more detailed user metrics, allowing the case to move forward in 2022.
