Meta accused of monopoly. Zuckerberg personally appears in court to emphasize legality.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court on Monday (April 14) to testify in defense of Meta against the antitrust charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The case revolves around whether Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, totaling billions of dollars, have weakened market competition through “killer acquisitions,” making it a significant antitrust lawsuit in the tech industry.

Currently being heard in a Washington courtroom, if the FTC prevails, it could potentially force the tech giant, valued at over $1.5 trillion, to divest its assets. This could have a significant impact on Meta’s advertising revenue.

FTC alleges that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014, respectively, consolidated the company’s dominance in the social media platform sector. The FTC argues that these acquisitions were “killer acquisitions,” stifling potential competitors and hindering market competition.

During the court hearing on April 14, FTC lawyer Daniel Matheson presented internal Meta emails as evidence, including Zuckerberg’s statements in 2011 that if Instagram continued to perform well in mobile devices or was acquired by Google, they could easily replicate Meta’s functions in the future.

In a 2012 email, Zuckerberg wrote that Instagram posed a “real threat” to Facebook, and “we may need to spend a lot to acquire it.”

Zuckerberg confirmed the contents of these emails in court, explaining that the company was about to go public, and they were considering whether to acquire tools with part of the capital instead of solely developing them themselves.

Regarding WhatsApp, the FTC points out that Zuckerberg warned in 2013 that the instant messaging app could “shake up markets like the U.S., where SMS is still the main platform.” The FTC believes that Meta, through these acquisitions, established a “moat” around the company, reducing the risk of facing new competitors in the future.

Additionally, the FTC argues that Meta manipulated the Instagram user experience post-acquisition to avoid eroding Facebook’s market position. While this may fall under business decisions, Matheson stated that “this act goes against the legislative spirit of U.S. antitrust laws.”

Matheson emphasized that Meta’s anti-competitive behavior has harmed consumer rights, with a significant increase in advertisements on Facebook and Instagram after the successful acquisitions, along with “persistent significant privacy shortcomings.”

Meta strongly refutes the FTC’s allegations. Representative lawyer Mark Hansen stated that Meta did not engage in monopolistic behavior; the case is “against the facts and against the law.” He argued that user behavior on Meta has significantly changed, with interactions shifting away from friends and family towards video content, including Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok.

Meta contends that the market competition is fierce, with competitors such as TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, Apple iMessage, and X (formerly Twitter). Hansen pointed out that during TikTok’s brief downtime in January 2025, Facebook saw a 20% increase in usage, while Instagram increased by 17%, demonstrating direct competition between Meta and TikTok.

He also questioned the FTC’s market definition and market share estimation methods. According to Meta, considering platforms like TikTok and YouTube, Meta’s “share of time spent” by users has dropped to less than 30%.

Zuckerberg stressed in court that Meta’s services are “always a platform for people to discover and understand the world,” not just for connecting with friends and family.

He pointed out that while “connecting friends and family” remains a focus, the company’s long-term direction is broader. He also denied attempting to restrict Instagram resources and explained that his 2012 statement of “let it keep running, as insurance,” was not intended to undermine the platform’s growth potential.

The case is expected to last approximately two months, with former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg and executives from TikTok, Snap, and YouTube, among other competitors, expected to testify.

If the FTC prevails and seeks asset divestitures, it could lead to Instagram and WhatsApp being separated from Meta, affecting its advertising revenue structure. According to Emarketer estimates, Instagram’s advertising revenue in 2025 is projected to reach $37.13 billion, accounting for over half of Meta’s total advertising revenue in the U.S.

This case is also seen as a major statement by the Trump administration on antitrust policy towards large tech companies.

As early as 2019 during President Trump’s first term, the FTC began investigating Meta and filed its first lawsuit in December 2020.

Current FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, appointed by President Trump in January 2025, has made it clear that he will strengthen enforcement actions against the tech industry.

Zuckerberg has recently made frequent visits to the White House and adjusted his content policy stance in an attempt to improve government relations. Since Trump’s election, Meta has revoked its content moderation policy criticized by the Republican Party and donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund. According to Bloomberg, earlier this month, Meta attempted to reach a settlement with the FTC to avoid a formal trial.