Subhechcha Ganguly 
Washington, D.C.: A high-stakes antitrust trial against Meta Platforms Inc. begins Monday, potentially threatening the tech giant’s control over Instagram and WhatsApp. The trial, led by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), is the culmination of nearly six years of investigation and legal maneuvering, and could reshape the landscape of the social media industry.
The case accuses Meta of maintaining a monopoly through its acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, alleging the company used a “buy or bury” strategy to stifle competition. The trial will take place in Washington before U.S. District Judge James Boasberg and is expected to last seven to eight weeks.
Key figures set to testify include Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, former COO Sheryl Sandberg, and Instagram head Adam Mosseri. According to NPR, their testimonies will be central to both the FTC’s arguments and Meta’s defense.
The FTC contends that Meta’s acquisitions were aimed at neutralizing competitive threats and securing long-term dominance in the social media market. “Meta bought its rivals to shut them down and cement its monopoly,” the Commission argues.
Meta, however, strongly refutes the claims. In a statement, spokesperson Christopher Sgro said the lawsuit “defies reality,” pointing out that Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp compete with a wide range of platforms including TikTok, YouTube, iMessage, X (formerly Twitter), and others. “The evidence at trial will show what every 17-year-old in the world knows: we’re in a highly competitive space,” he said.
Adding to the drama, The Wall Street Journal reported that Zuckerberg personally urged then-President Donald Trump to persuade the FTC to abandon the case — a claim Meta denies. Tensions between Zuckerberg and Trump had previously escalated following the former president’s ban from Meta platforms after the January 6 Capitol riot.
Originally filed during the Trump administration, the case gained momentum under President Joe Biden and is now proceeding under FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson. The agency’s argument hinges on proving that Meta’s acquisitions weren’t just strategic but anti-competitive and monopolistic in nature.
The trial could set a major precedent for how U.S. regulators approach mergers and acquisitions in the tech sector, with far-reaching consequences for Big Tech’s future.
