The goal, Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, starts on Monday (14) the most important antitrust trial against a technology company in the United States in over a decade.
The case, powered by FTC (Federal Trade Commission), wants to force Mark Zuckerberg’s company to get rid of Instagram (acquired in 2012) and WhatsApp (purchased in 2014), on charges of monopolistic practices.
The trial takes place at the District Court of the District of Columbia and is expected to last between seven and eight weeks. The company is expected to be named for the company, such as Zuckerberg himself, Sheryl Sandberg (former COO) and Adam Mosseri (Instagram boss), are summoned to testify.
Central accusations
FTC argues that the goal used a strategy known as “buy or bury“ – Buy or suffocate – to neutralize competitors and consolidate their dominant position in the social networking market. The purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp would have eliminated promising rivals, restricting competition and impairing innovation in the sector.
Although the acquisitions were approved at the time, the regulatory body maintains that the impact could only be measured over time. If the FTC wins, Zuckerberg can be forced to dismember the two holding apps, reconfiguring the global digital platform scenario.
The goal states that it operates in a “highly competitive” market and that its platforms dispute space with Tiktok, Youtube, X (former Twitter), IMESSAGE and others. In a statement, he said that “the evidence will show what any 17 -year -old knows: Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp compete fiercely with several players.”
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The company also questions the risk of legal uncertainty if the court reverses fuse decisions approved more than a decade ago. “We would send the message that no agreement is really completed,” the goal said, referring to the impact on the US market.
Political factors and pressure on regulators
The action was filed in 2020, at the end of Donald Trump’s first term, and crossed Joe Biden’s management. Now, with the Republican back to the presidency, the political scenario has changed: Zuckerberg donated $ 1 million to the inaugural fund of the new government, strengthened ties with the White House and promoted allies of the president, such as UFC boss, Dana White, to the Goal Council.
Even so, the FTC – presided by Andrew Ferguson, nominated by Trump – remains firm in the action. Two former Democratic doctor, fired in March, accuse the president of trying to intimidate the regulatory body. “The message was clear: if they do not do what he wants, they will also be dismissed,” said Rebecca Slaugh, one of the fired.
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Dangerous precedent or historical correction?
Analysts evaluate the case as a watershed to regulate the Big Techs. If the FTC wins, the precedent may impact other giants like Google, Amazon and Apple. A parallel case, moved against Google, is under appeal after the court recognizes monopoly on online searches.
For goal advocates, any defeat would open margin so that legally approved business decisions are reversed by political pressure years later – something that could compromise investors’ confidence in future mergers.
