Washington
Social media platforms- Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram parent company Mata may have to sell two platforms WhatsApp and Instagram. The reason is the hearing of the antitrust case against the company in Washington, USA.
The company has been accused by the US Competition and Consumer Watch Dog that it had bought Instagram ($ 1 billion) in 2012 and WhatsApp ($ 22 billion) in 2012 to end the market competition and build its own monopoly.
The Federal Trade Commission alleges that Meta has abolished its rivers by purchasing Instagram and WhatsApp years ago. FTC counsel says that META bought them instead of competing with their competition. He has taken this step to maintain Facebook’s dominance.
If FTC wins the case, platforms may have to be sold
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) gave permission to buy WhatsApp and Instagram. But under the rules, FTC also has to monitor the result of the deal. So he had to register a case against Meta. If (FTC) wins the case, he may force Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to sell both Instagram and WhatsApp.
Zuckerberg and former COO can be called for questioning
According to the report, both Zuckerberg and former Chief Operating Officer (COO) Shell Sandberg can be called for questioning during the trial in the trial. The hearing of the anti -trust case can run for more than 6 weeks.
Argument against Zuckerberg…
Antitrest professor Rebecca Hai Elaensworth said that Zuckerberg had bought it to neutralize the competition from Instagram to Facebook.
Zuckerberg’s conversation and their email trial can present the most concrete evidence. Zuckerberg had said that instead of competition in the market, it is better to buy that company.
Mark Zuckerberg’s argument…
Meta argued that he would win the case, as the experience of its users increased after purchasing Instagram.
According to the report, Meta may argue that the intention in an antitrust case is not very relevant.
Big proof against meta
On behalf of FTC, Daniel Matheson cited a 2012 internal memo, which was from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In this memo, Instagram has been said to ‘neutralize’. At the same time, Meta has said in response to this that this case is going to mislead. Meta has told that at the time of both the acquisition, FTC himself reviewed them and approved the acquisition.
The company’s Attorney said that these deals were done to strengthen the platform and improve the consumer experience. If the decision in this matter goes in favor of FTC, then Meta will have to sell WhatsApp and Instagram. FTC has said that Meta had given more money to buy these platforms.
How much did you buy?
Meta bought Instagram in 2012 for $ 1 billion, while WhatsApp was bought by the company in 2014 for $ 19 billion. However, Meta says that they are still facing a challenge from Tiktok, X (first Twitter), YouTube and Apple IMESSAGE.
During this hearing, Mark Zuckerberg and former Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg can also be called. It is speculated that the hearing in this case will run for several weeks. Let us know that the case started during the first term of US President Donald Trump.