Is Zuckerberg Playing Trump's Cable to Win in Court?
Monday saw Meta's landmark antitrust trial in Washington, with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accusing the social media giant of illegally suppressing competitors through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The FTC argues that the $1 billion purchase of Instagram in 2012 and the $19 billion WhatsApp in 2014 were strategies to eliminate competition, referring to Zuckerberg's 2012 memo that said, "It's better to buy than compete."
The stakes?
An FTC victory could force Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to break up the company, separating Instagram and WhatsApp.
With both Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg set to testify, the trial is expected to last for weeks and could potentially change the future of one of the world's largest tech companies.
As the trial heats up, political elements are heating up, with Zuckerberg reportedly trying to lobby Trump to intervene and drop the case.
Meanwhile, the emergence of apps like TikTok and YouTube has put pressure on Meta, which claims its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were aimed at improving user experience.
However, the FTC is determined to challenge that narrative, saying the move is more about eliminating competitors.
Is this the beginning of the end for Meta as we know it?
