Global site navigation

Local editions

Meta asks US judge to toss blockbuster antitrust case
Technology

Meta asks US judge to toss blockbuster antitrust case

by  AFP 2 min read
A photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows the logo of US online social media and social networking service Facebook on a smartphone screen
A photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows the logo of US online social media and social networking service Facebook on a smartphone screen. Photo: Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: The 2024 Business Leaders Awards Present Entrepreneurs that Change Nigeria for the Better. Check out their Stories!

Facebook giant Meta on Friday asked a federal judge to dismiss a case from a powerful US antitrust authority that could see the social media juggernaut forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.

The lawsuit, filed in December 2020 by the Federal Trade Commission, centers on Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, which the FTC argues stifled competition in the market for social networks.

In the usual practice of trying to have the case dismissed before reaching trial, Meta said in a motion that its acquisitions were "good for consumers and businesses" and won approval by the FTC when they were made.

"The FTC reviewed both acquisitions years ago and allowed them to close. The decision to revisit done deals is tantamount to announcing that no sale will ever be final," Meta said in a statement.

Read also

X gives free blue check to big follower accounts

Meta also argued that TikTok and YouTube were absent in the FTC’s definition of the social media market, “ignoring many of the most popular activities people engage in on Facebook and Instagram."

The crux of the FTC's case claims Meta achieved a "monopoly power" by acquiring these potentially rival platforms.

PAY ATTENTION: Share your outstanding story with our editors! Please reach us through info@corp.legit.ng!

The case suffered a setback in June 2021 when a judge dismissed the initial complaint. However, the FTC refiled with an amended suit in August 2021, successfully surviving Meta's attempt to have it thrown out.

The FTC has until May 30 to offer a counter-argument to Meta's plea to the judge; no trial has been set for the case.

A trial win by the FTC could reshape the online landscape, potentially landing a major blow to Meta’s dominance of the social media ecosystem.

Read also

US Fed should avoid climate change 'mission creep': Powell

The FTC and the US Department of Justice, which shares antitrust enforcement, have launched a series of blockbuster cases against US tech giants in recent years.

The case against Google over its dominant search engine could be decided by a federal judge by the end of the year.

PAY ATTENTION: Donate to Legit Charity on Patreon. Your support matters!

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: