US sues Meta, seeks WhatsApp, Instagram breakup

The United States government has taken Meta Platforms Inc. to court over allegations of monopolistic practices.

According to reports, the historic antitrust trial begins Monday April 14, 2025, and may force Meta to split from Instagram and WhatsApp.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed the lawsuit in 2020 under President Donald Trump’s administration.

The FTC accuses Meta of buying startups to eliminate competition and dominate the social media market illegally.

The lawsuit claims Meta followed Zuckerberg’s strategy: “It is better to buy than compete.”

The FTC insists Meta maintained a monopoly by acquiring Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014.

It said Meta’s purchases blocked potential threats and weakened fair competition in the tech sector.

Facebook allegedly tracked rival apps and bought them before they could grow stronger in the market.

The FTC argues Meta bought WhatsApp for $22 billion after Instagram’s $1 billion acquisition.

Meta says the lawsuit ignores market reality and challenges acquisitions cleared more than 10 years ago.

Meta insists Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp compete with TikTok, YouTube, iMessage, and X (formerly Twitter).

Meta claims the lawsuit sends a message that “no deal is truly final.”

The company accuses regulators of hurting American innovation and giving China an advantage in artificial intelligence.

Meta argues the FTC must prove monopoly power exists today, not from past market conditions.

Experts say the FTC faces difficulty defining the market narrowly enough to prove Meta’s dominance.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg will decide Meta’s fate after refusing to dismiss the case earlier.

Analysts say Instagram is now Meta’s largest U.S. moneymaker and vital for reaching young users.

Emarketer analyst Jasmine Enberg says Instagram drives over 50% of Meta’s U.S. ad revenue in 2025.

Meta still struggles to attract Gen Z to Facebook despite efforts to revive the platform.

Meanwhile, Google and Amazon also face antitrust scrutiny from federal regulators.

Experts argue U.S. antitrust laws must evolve to tackle modern, dynamic tech markets effectively.

The trial could reshape the future of Big Tech and online competition globally.

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