A federal judge dealt a blow to the Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday, ruling against the agency in a blockbuster lawsuit against Meta.
US District Judge James Boasberg ruled that the FTC failed to prove Meta formed a monopoly through its purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp.
“The Court ultimately concludes that the agency has not carried its burden: Meta holds no monopoly in the relevant market,” Boasberg wrote. “Judgment must therefore be entered in its favor.”
The FTC’s lawsuit, filed in 2020, alleged Meta’s ownership of Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook meant the company illegally dominated the “personal social networking services” market. Government lawyers asked the judge to issue a ruling that would force Meta to divest from Instagram and WhatsApp.
Boasberg ruled that the “personal social networking services” market was too ill-defined. In rulings over the years, Boasberg said he noticed that Meta’s apps — and the company’s competitors — kept changing.
“The Court’s two Opinions on motions to dismiss did not even mention the word ‘TikTok,'” Boasberg wrote. “Today, that app holds center stage as Meta’s fiercest rival.”
This story is breaking and will be updated.
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