Judge Dismisses FTC Case Against Meta on Acquisitions

A federal judge in Washington ruled on Tuesday that Meta Platforms did not violate antitrust laws through its acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, delivering a significant victory to the company and ending a five-year legal challenge from the Federal Trade Commission.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg dismissed the FTC's case, concluding that the agency failed to prove Meta maintains a monopoly in the personal social networking market. The FTC had accused Meta, formerly known as Facebook, of using its dominant position to acquire or neutralize potential competitors, thereby limiting innovation and user choices in social media. The lawsuit sought to force Meta to divest the two apps, which together form a cornerstone of the company's global reach and advertising revenue.

In his 89-page opinion, Boasberg emphasized the rapid evolution of the digital landscape since the FTC filed the suit in 2020. "The landscape that existed only five years ago when the Federal Trade Commission brought this antitrust suit has changed markedly," he wrote. The judge pointed to the rise of platforms like TikTok and YouTube as key competitors, noting that these services now offer...