FTC to appeal ruling that rejected its Meta antitrust case

FTC seeks to revive its monopoly theory

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday it will appeal a November decision that ruled in favor of Meta in the FTC’s antitrust case against the social media company.

The FTC said it continues to allege that Meta “illegally maintained a monopoly” in social networking through anticompetitive conduct involving Meta’s acquisitions of competitive threats it identified in Instagram and WhatsApp.

Judge Boasberg issued the November ruling after the trial

The decision was issued by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Nov. 18, after the antitrust trial wrapped up in late May, according to the AP report.

In rejecting the FTC’s arguments, the court ruled that Meta does not hold a monopoly in social networking, the AP report said. The AP report also noted that the FTC’s case had raised the possibility of a forced break-up of Instagram and WhatsApp, but that did not happen under the judge’s ruling.

Meta calls the court’s rejection of the FTC arguments correct

In a statement, Meta said the court’s decision “to reject the FTC’s arguments is correct, and recognizes the fierce competition we face. We will remain focused on innovating and investing in America.”

The FTC’s decision to appeal was announced the same day the AP reported on Meta’s response to the prior ruling.

Broader antitrust backdrop includes outcomes against Google

AP said Boasberg’s ruling ran in sharp contrast to two separate rulings that branded Google an illegal monopoly in both search and online advertising.

The FTC’s appeal means the agency will seek to continue its challenge to Meta’s alleged monopoly position in social networking, following the outcome of the judge’s Nov. 18 decision.