META / Will Instagram and WhatsApp go out of Zuckerberg's hands?

META: The story of the acquisition of WhatsApp and Instagram a decade ago is now becoming a noose around Meta's neck. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has put Meta and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the dock. The hearing of the anti-trust case in the Tribunal Court has started on Monday, April 15, which can prove to be decisive for the future of Meta.

Zuckerberg presented his side

On the first day of the hearing, Mark Zuckerberg strongly put his stand in the court and said that the acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp was done with the aim of improving user experience and promoting innovation. He claimed that Meta's platforms have constantly evolved over time and now users are more connected with their interest-based activities. He said that the basic purpose of Meta has always been to connect people with their friends and family.

FTC's allegations: "Acquisition done to suppress competition"

The FTC has made serious allegations against Meta. The agency's top litigator Daniel Matheson said that the trio of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp has left users with no viable option. He says that Meta bought Instagram and WhatsApp only to eliminate potential competition. The FTC sees these three apps as an integral part of the personal social networking market, where users remain connected with their personal contacts.

The FTC also presented some internal emails of 2012 in the court, which mention Facebook's strategy that Instagram was being seen as a potential threat. Through these emails, an attempt was made to prove that this acquisition was done with the intention of eliminating competition.

Zuckerberg's counterattack

Mark Zuckerberg rejected these allegations and said that these deals were approved by US regulatory agencies in 2012 and 2014. He argued that challenging these deals today on the basis of years-old emails is not only unfair, but also ignores the natural development of technology.

Big threat for Meta?

If the FTC wins this case, Meta may lose Instagram and WhatsApp. This move will be a big setback not only from a technical point of view but also commercially. It is estimated that in 2025, Instagram alone will contribute more than half of Meta's US advertising revenue. In such a situation, shutting down or separating these platforms can cause huge financial losses for the company.

What will happen next?

This case is now becoming one of the biggest legal battles between Meta and US regulators. The trial period can last for about eight weeks, in which many more documents, witnesses and technical evidence can come to light. Zuckerberg has to present his side in court once again today (Tuesday).