US: Meta scored a major victory after a US federal judge dismissed the government’s attempt to force the company to unwind its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The ruling marks one of the biggest wins yet for Big Tech in the ongoing antitrust push that began during Donald Trump’s presidency.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled that Meta does not control the social media market to the extent claimed by the Federal Trade Commission. The agency had argued that Meta bought Instagram and WhatsApp to crush emerging rivals and weaken competition. It sought to make Meta sell or restructure both platforms.
Boasberg, however, said the digital landscape has changed significantly since the lawsuit was filed five years ago. He noted that platforms like TikTok and YouTube exert strong competitive pressure, and excluding them from the market definition undermined the FTC’s case. He added that even TikTok alone was enough to counter the claim that Meta held monopoly power.
The ruling deals a heavy blow to the FTC, which is also pursuing a separate case against Amazon. It comes at a time when U.S. regulators are trying to rein in the dominance of major technology firms, including Google and Apple.
Meta welcomed the decision, saying its products support people, businesses, and innovation. The FTC did not immediately comment. Meta shares initially dipped but recovered to trade just under one percent lower after the ruling became public.
The company defended its acquisition strategy during the trial, arguing that buying firms with innovative features is a legitimate way to grow. It also pointed to competition from TikTok, YouTube, and Apple’s messaging services as proof that the social media market remains dynamic.
