A federal judge has ruled that Meta Platforms’ acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp did not violate U.S. antitrust laws, delivering a significant victory to the tech company in a high-profile case brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
In a decision issued Tuesday, Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia found that the FTC failed to demonstrate that Meta held monopoly power in the alleged market for personal social networking services. The agency had accused Meta of maintaining an illegal monopoly by acquiring emerging competitors, thereby suppressing competition, Yahoo reported.
Judge Boasberg noted that the FTC faced “an uphill battle” in proving its claims and ultimately did not establish that Meta possessed monopoly power. The government had argued that platforms such as Google’s YouTube and ByteDance’s TikTok functioned primarily as entertainment services rather than direct competitors to Meta’s social networking offerings. The court, however, was unpersuaded by the FTC’s market definition and competitive assessment.
The ruling arrives at a moment of intensified scrutiny of major technology firms and varying outcomes in antitrust enforcement. In September, Google avoided a forced divestiture of its Chrome browser following allegations of monopolizing online search, although the company has faced other legal setbacks. Meanwhile, antitrust cases against Amazon and Apple continue to advance, with trials scheduled for 2027.
In a statement following the decision, Meta said the ruling “recognizes that Meta faces fierce competition.”
“Our products are beneficial for people and businesses and exemplify American innovation and economic growth. We look forward to continuing to partner with the Administration and to invest in America,” the company said.
The FTC has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the decision.