Could Mark Zuckerberg Be Forced to Sell Instagram? Landmark Trial Begins
A high-stakes antitrust trial has begun in Washington, with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) taking on Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The FTC alleges that Meta’s 2012 acquisition of Instagram and 2014 purchase of WhatsApp were calculated moves to squash competition, securing its grip on social media.
If the FTC prevails, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg could be compelled to divest these platforms, fundamentally altering the tech industry.
The FTC’s Allegations
The FTC claims Meta bought Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate potential rivals rather than innovate to stay ahead. When the lawsuit was launched in 2020, Ian Conner, former director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition said:
Facebook’s actions to entrench and maintain its monopoly deny consumers the benefits of competition.
Ian Conner
The agency cites Zuckerberg’s own emails, including one where he called Instagram’s growth “really scary” and said it’s “better to buy than compete,” according to Vanderbilt Law School professor Rebecca Haw Allensworth.
The FTC argues this strategy harmed users, leaving them with fewer options and a degraded experience marked by excessive ads.
Meta’s Counterargument
Meta insists its acquisitions enhanced user experience, turning Instagram and WhatsApp into global powerhouses through heavy investment.
“The evidence at trial will show what every 17-year-old in the world knows: Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp compete with Chinese-owned TikTok, YouTube, X, iMessage and many others,” a Meta spokesperson said.
The company maintains that the focus should be on consumer benefits, not acquisition motives, and highlights the competitive nature of the social media market.
Political Tensions
The case is shadowed by political manoeuvring.
Zuckerberg reportedly lobbied President Donald Trump to halt the lawsuit, with Meta contributing $1m (£764,400) to Trump’s inaugural fund.
The dismissal of two Democratic FTC commissioners has sparked fears of interference, with former commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter warning it sends “a very clear signal” to regulators, according to the BBC.
FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, a Trump appointee, has dismissed such concerns, telling The Verge he’d be “very surprised” if instructed to drop the case.
The Road Ahead
Presided over by Judge James Boasberg, the trial will feature testimony from Zuckerberg and former Meta executive Sheryl Sandberg over several weeks.
A ruling against Meta could trigger a historic breakup, though experts like Laura Phillips-Sawyer of the University of Georgia note the FTC faces an “uphill battle” in proving its case amid a crowded social media landscape.
The verdict will not only shape Meta’s future but also set a precedent for antitrust actions against Big Tech.