Meta Platforms has asked a federal judge to dismiss the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case accusing the company of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the social media market.
The request was made Thursday during a high-profile trial in Washington, where Meta is defending its past acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The FTC, which began presenting its case on April 14, is seeking to unwind those acquisitions, arguing that Meta bought both platforms to eliminate potential rivals and maintain its dominance in social networking. Meta’s legal team argued that the agency has failed to meet its burden of proof and asked U.S. District Judge James Boasberg to issue a ruling based on the evidence presented so far.
Meta maintained that internal evidence shows WhatsApp had no intention of competing as a social network before its acquisition and that Instagram saw growth after it was acquired. The company also disputed the FTC’s claims that platforms like TikTok are fundamentally different from Facebook and Instagram, asserting that all social apps compete for user attention through compelling user-generated content.
The FTC has yet to comment on Meta’s dismissal request. If the judge does not rule in Meta’s favor, both parties are expected to submit final briefs and present closing arguments following the conclusion of Meta’s evidence. A finding of monopoly by the court would lead to a second trial to determine potential remedies.
