Cecilia Kang

They start to look at acquisitions that these companies have made over the years that may have not seemed either threatening or anti-competitive at the time because these big companies are often buying very small startups. But those acquisitions become really important tools for these companies to continue to grow and to maintain their monopolies.

They start to look at acquisitions that these companies have made over the years that may have not seemed either threatening or anti-competitive at the time because these big companies are often buying very small startups. But those acquisitions become really important tools for these companies to continue to grow and to maintain their monopolies.

It used to be that the key way to determine if a monopoly was breaking the law was whether prices were going up for consumers. But how does that apply to an internet company, especially a company that has apps like Facebook and Instagram, which are free? And so regulators are saying there are different ways that we should look at how these companies have too much power.

It used to be that the key way to determine if a monopoly was breaking the law was whether prices were going up for consumers. But how does that apply to an internet company, especially a company that has apps like Facebook and Instagram, which are free? And so regulators are saying there are different ways that we should look at how these companies have too much power.

So the government is arguing that there are other ways consumers have been harmed. They say that if these mergers were not approved— that maybe Instagram and WhatsApp would have created much more competition that would spur Facebook to be more innovative and to make their app better. So you might see fewer things like data privacy scandals.

So the government is arguing that there are other ways consumers have been harmed. They say that if these mergers were not approved— that maybe Instagram and WhatsApp would have created much more competition that would spur Facebook to be more innovative and to make their app better. So you might see fewer things like data privacy scandals.

You might see the company do a better job when it comes to containing misinformation. All these things that are not related to price, but do affect the consumer experience. And most interestingly, the Trump administration has introduced a new wrinkle.

You might see the company do a better job when it comes to containing misinformation. All these things that are not related to price, but do affect the consumer experience. And most interestingly, the Trump administration has introduced a new wrinkle.

President Trump and his top antitrust regulators have argued that these platforms censor speech and that their ability to censor speech is a real sign, a symptom of a problem, which is that they are too powerful. So they are arguing for the first time that I have heard a speech theory that antitrust enforcement should include concerns about speech.

President Trump and his top antitrust regulators have argued that these platforms censor speech and that their ability to censor speech is a real sign, a symptom of a problem, which is that they are too powerful. So they are arguing for the first time that I have heard a speech theory that antitrust enforcement should include concerns about speech.

So it's really ironic. In some ways, Zuckerberg and Trump want the same thing. They want complete free speech on the internet. They want no censorship. And Zuckerberg has tried to signal to Trump that, hey, we are on the same side on this issue.

So it's really ironic. In some ways, Zuckerberg and Trump want the same thing. They want complete free speech on the internet. They want no censorship. And Zuckerberg has tried to signal to Trump that, hey, we are on the same side on this issue.

But even though Zuckerberg has tried to do that and made so many other efforts to try to appease Trump, it really hasn't landed in the way that Zuckerberg wants and needs. He still has to go through this trial. And that's because even though they might agree on some things, Facebook is still viewed as simply just too big.

But even though Zuckerberg has tried to do that and made so many other efforts to try to appease Trump, it really hasn't landed in the way that Zuckerberg wants and needs. He still has to go through this trial. And that's because even though they might agree on some things, Facebook is still viewed as simply just too big.

I think so. I think Meta is coming in really confidently. I think legal experts are all saying that this is a tough case for the FTC. But the real question that I have as I watch Mark Zuckerberg finish his testimony this week is, what is he winning here? They might win this trial, but he still needs to win over the president.

I think so. I think Meta is coming in really confidently. I think legal experts are all saying that this is a tough case for the FTC. But the real question that I have as I watch Mark Zuckerberg finish his testimony this week is, what is he winning here? They might win this trial, but he still needs to win over the president.

There are so many other issues that relate to his business, and there's so much at stake with this administration as the company continues to try to expand in new areas and grow. So I would say this is just one step in a very long process for Meta to really get back into the good graces of Washington and particularly to, for the first time, win over Trump's support.

There are so many other issues that relate to his business, and there's so much at stake with this administration as the company continues to try to expand in new areas and grow. So I would say this is just one step in a very long process for Meta to really get back into the good graces of Washington and particularly to, for the first time, win over Trump's support.

Because who knows what the next fight will be. That's right. And there will be many. Cecilia, thank you so much. Thank you for having me, Rachel.

Because who knows what the next fight will be. That's right. And there will be many. Cecilia, thank you so much. Thank you for having me, Rachel.