Chicago – April 14, 2025
The Federal Trade Commission’s high-profile antitrust trial against Meta begins Monday in a Washington courtroom, marking the peak of a nearly six-year investigation into whether the tech giant violated competition laws when it acquired Instagram and WhatsApp.
This case could determine the fate of Meta’s $1.4 trillion advertising empire and potentially lead to a historic corporate breakup, with Instagram and WhatsApp possibly being split into separate companies. The last breakup of this magnitude was the AT&T telephone monopoly over four decades ago. The trial, presided over by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, is expected to last seven to eight weeks, starting with opening statements from both sides.
A significant amount of evidence and testimony is expected, with the government planning to call Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, former COO Sheryl Sandberg, and Instagram head Adam Mosseri to testify.
What is the FTC’s claim?
The FTC alleges that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were part of a deliberate plan to stifle competition and solidify its dominance in the social media space. According to the government, Meta followed a “buy or bury” approach, acquiring companies it saw as potential threats or pushing them out of the market. Prosecutors point to a 2012 internal email where Zuckerberg allegedly stated that purchasing Instagram was aimed at “neutralizing a potential competitor.” The FTC argues that this behavior is a clear violation of federal antitrust laws.
What does the FTC want as a remedy?
To restore competition, the FTC is calling for Meta to be forced to divest both Instagram and WhatsApp. They believe that breaking up the company will give smaller social platforms a fair shot at competing for users and advertising revenue, thereby loosening Meta’s control over the industry.
How is Meta defending itself?
Meta argues that it’s being unfairly targeted for its success and innovation. The company insists it has always played by the rules and that the acquisitions were legally approved by regulators over a decade ago. Meta also claims the FTC is trying to reverse deals that were already cleared, based on hindsight.
Moreover, Meta says that today’s social media landscape is vastly more competitive than it was in 2012 or 2014, with strong rivals like TikTok, Snapchat, Elon Musk’s X, YouTube, and iMessage. In a statement ahead of the trial, Meta said its evidence will demonstrate that Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp all compete fiercely in a crowded market. The company also criticized the FTC’s move as undermining trust in regulatory decisions, stating, “This case sends the message that no deal is ever truly final.”
