1 week Ago By Shubham Arora
Meta, the company behind Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is about to face one of its biggest legal battles yet. The US government is taking Mark Zuckerberg’s tech empire to court next week, accusing it of using unfair tactics to kill competition. If the court rules in favour of the government, Meta may be forced to sell Instagram and WhatsApp, two of its most valuable platforms.
What’s the Case About? According to a report by The Hindu, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has argued that Meta, under Zuckerberg’s leadership, bought Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 not just for growth, but to prevent them from becoming serious rivals. At the time of these purchases, both apps were small startups, but today they serve billions of users globally. An email from Zuckerberg presented in court supports this theory.
It reportedly said, “The potential impact of Instagram is really scary,” showing early concern about the app’s rise. The FTC claims Zuckerberg used Meta’s financial power to eliminate competition before it could grow. Can Meta Defend Itself? Meta is expected to argue that both deals were approved by the FTC years ago and that the company invested heavily in making Instagram and WhatsApp what they are today.
Meta believes the government shouldn’t get a second chance to reverse those decisions. They’ll also point to recent court losses for the FTC, like the failed attempts to stop Meta’s Within deal and Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision, as signs that the case is weak. What’s at Stake? The trial, which begins Monday and could last two months, is part of a wider crackdown on Big Tech.
Google, Apple, and Amazon are all facing similar lawsuits over competition issues. Zuckerberg has reportedly tried to persuade former President Donald Trump to intervene in the case, but experts believe it's unlikely. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson has dismissed the chances of political influence ending the case.
If Meta loses, it could be forced to spin off Instagram and WhatsApp, marking a massive shake-up in the tech world. All eyes will now be on Judge James Boasberg, who has warned that the FTC has some tough legal hurdles to clear. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Technology Science and around the world.
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