Zuckerberg in the Crosshairs
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to take the stand in what promises to be a trial highlight. A 2008 email from Zuckerberg, stating it’s “better to buy than compete,” will likely surface again as the FTC seeks to frame the acquisitions as predatory rather than visionary.
Meta plans an aggressive defense, reportedly preparing to call up to 86 witnesses, including 17 expert testimonies. The trial could unravel in unpredictable directions as both sides brace for surprise evidence and fierce cross-examinations.
Zuckerberg’s star testimony is poised to echo through the chamber like a three-pointer at the buzzer — clutch, contested, and critical.
The Stakes: Future of Antitrust and Big Tech Mergers
At issue is not only whether Meta must divest Instagram and WhatsApp, but whether long-closed mergers can be reopened if they turn out to be too successful. Former FTC Chair William Kovacic noted that the outcome could transform how companies plan their exit strategies and M&A roadmaps: “The entire marketplace is watching.”
Judge Boasberg has already rejected Meta’s motion for summary judgment, though he trimmed the case to focus specifically on the acquisitions. He acknowledged the FTC had “strained this country’s creaking antitrust precedents to their limits,” suggesting the trial will press legal boundaries and historical assumptions alike.
