Bobby Allen

Meta says regulators approved the takeover of Instagram and WhatsApp more than a decade ago and that the FTC is punishing Meta for its success. Dozens of witnesses will testify under oath, including Zuckerberg, who is expected to take the stand for seven hours. Zuckerberg has lobbied the Trump administration for the case to be dropped. It was originally filed during Trump's first term.

Bobby Allen, NPR News.

Bobby Allen, NPR News.

The FTC says Meta acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp two years later as part of a strategy to eliminate competition and maintain monopoly power over the whole social media market. The government says Meta was motivated by a buy or bury strategy, meaning Meta would try to purchase a rival or put them out of business entirely.

The FTC says Meta acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp two years later as part of a strategy to eliminate competition and maintain monopoly power over the whole social media market. The government says Meta was motivated by a buy or bury strategy, meaning Meta would try to purchase a rival or put them out of business entirely.

The FTC says Meta acquired Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp two years later as part of a strategy to eliminate competition and maintain monopoly power over the whole social media market. The government says Meta was motivated by a buy or bury strategy, meaning Meta would try to purchase a rival or put them out of business entirely.

The FTC says this is illegal and the only way to remedy it is for Meta to be broken up. So the FTC is pushing for Instagram and WhatsApp to be spun off in two separate companies. The government says this will allow smaller social media companies to compete for consumers and add dollars and loosen Meta's grip on the industry.

The FTC says this is illegal and the only way to remedy it is for Meta to be broken up. So the FTC is pushing for Instagram and WhatsApp to be spun off in two separate companies. The government says this will allow smaller social media companies to compete for consumers and add dollars and loosen Meta's grip on the industry.

The FTC says this is illegal and the only way to remedy it is for Meta to be broken up. So the FTC is pushing for Instagram and WhatsApp to be spun off in two separate companies. The government says this will allow smaller social media companies to compete for consumers and add dollars and loosen Meta's grip on the industry.

And as you might imagine, Michelle, Meta is fighting back against this pretty hard.

And as you might imagine, Michelle, Meta is fighting back against this pretty hard.

And as you might imagine, Michelle, Meta is fighting back against this pretty hard.

Yeah, Meta is expected to say it's always competed fairly and that regulators are trying to punish the company for being so successful and so innovative. Lawyers for Meta have said in court filings that, you know, the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, and look, they were quite prescient and made the company really successful. Meta says they were approved by regulators at the time. So to

Yeah, Meta is expected to say it's always competed fairly and that regulators are trying to punish the company for being so successful and so innovative. Lawyers for Meta have said in court filings that, you know, the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, and look, they were quite prescient and made the company really successful. Meta says they were approved by regulators at the time. So to

Yeah, Meta is expected to say it's always competed fairly and that regulators are trying to punish the company for being so successful and so innovative. Lawyers for Meta have said in court filings that, you know, the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, and look, they were quite prescient and made the company really successful. Meta says they were approved by regulators at the time. So to

go back years and try to unwind these deals, Meta says is unreasonable. Meta also says by breaking up an American tech company, who are you going to benefit? Rivals abroad, including Chinese competitors.

go back years and try to unwind these deals, Meta says is unreasonable. Meta also says by breaking up an American tech company, who are you going to benefit? Rivals abroad, including Chinese competitors.

go back years and try to unwind these deals, Meta says is unreasonable. Meta also says by breaking up an American tech company, who are you going to benefit? Rivals abroad, including Chinese competitors.

Well, the FTC says it would mean more competition and therefore better quality social media services. The FTC says since Meta is a monopoly, all of its apps have become pretty lousy and full of intrusive advertising. The agency also says privacy protections for users exist. So, you know, if the FTC is to be believed here, a breakup would mean just better quality social media apps for all of us.

Well, the FTC says it would mean more competition and therefore better quality social media services. The FTC says since Meta is a monopoly, all of its apps have become pretty lousy and full of intrusive advertising. The agency also says privacy protections for users exist. So, you know, if the FTC is to be believed here, a breakup would mean just better quality social media apps for all of us.