The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is trying to revive its antitrust case against Meta Platforms, accusing the company of illegally strengthening its dominance by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp.
FTC spokesperson Joe Simonson said the agency’s stance has not changed, even after a court dismissed the case last year.
The case is part of a wider crackdown on Big Tech that began during former President Donald Trump’s first term. The FTC claims Meta violated antitrust laws when it bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, arguing the company spent billions of dollars to remove future competitors and protect its market power.
Although the deals were approved at the time, the FTC sued Meta in 2020, saying it held a monopoly over social platforms used to connect friends and family. The agency has asked the court to force Meta to sell or restructure Instagram and WhatsApp to restore competition and give users more choices.
Meta, however, says it faces strong competition, especially from TikTok. In November, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg agreed, ruling that Meta does not currently hold a monopoly.
Responding to the FTC’s renewed effort, Meta said the decision correctly reflects the competitive nature of the market and that the company will stay focused on innovation and investment in the U.S.
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