Meta CEO defends his company in historic antitrust trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has testified in a historic antitrust trial, defending his company against allegations of illegally monopolising the social media market.

Brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the trial could force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, two startups acquired over a decade ago.

The trial marks a significant test for the FTC's ability to challenge Big Tech companies and their business practices.

FTC attorney Daniel Matheson questioned Zuckerberg about internal communications, including a message expressing frustration with Meta's photo-sharing app development, which Zuckerberg attributed to Instagram's rapid growth.

Zuckerberg also faced questions about his concerns regarding Instagram's growth and whether Meta had neglected the platform after acquisition.

Zuckerberg insisted that Instagram wasn't neglected, stating that Meta invested heavily in the platform after acquisition.

In opening statements, Matheson argued that Meta used its position to generate enormous profits while consumer satisfaction dropped, and that the company "erected a moat" to protect its interests by buying Instagram and WhatsApp.

Meta's attorney, Mark Hansen, countered that the FTC's arguments were misguided, saying that Meta faces plenty of competition and has improved the acquired startups.

"This lawsuit, in summary, is misguided," Hansen said, adding that "consumers have been the big winners," he noted.

For the unversed, the lawsuit, filed in 2020, claimed Meta's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were made to squash competition and establish an illegal monopoly in the social media market.