Lily Jamali reporting from San Francisco for Reuters stated that a trial in the landmark antitrust case against social media giant Meta began in Washington on Monday. Attorneys for the US competition and consumer watchdog claim that Meta unlawfully eliminated competition by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp over a decade ago. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawyer Daniel Matheson argued that Meta chose to buy out their rivals rather than compete with them. However, Meta’s attorney Mark Hansen argued that the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were intended to improve and grow them alongside Facebook. If the FTC wins the case, it could lead to CEO Mark Zuckerberg breaking up the company by spinning off Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC alleges that Meta overpaid for Instagram and WhatsApp and that the acquisitions were a way to neutralize competition to Facebook. The trial is expected to last for several weeks, with both Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg set to testify.
The case, FTC v Meta, was filed during former President Donald Trump’s first administration but risks becoming politicized during his second term. Reports suggest that Zuckerberg lobbied Trump to have the FTC drop the case. Meta disputed the FTC’s claims, stating that the acquisitions were made to improve the consumer experience. The relationship between Zuckerberg and Trump has had its ups and downs, with Meta contributing to Trump’s inaugural fund and adding Trump allies to its board of directors. The case has also been affected by Trump’s decision to fire two FTC commissioners, leading to concerns about political interference.
The FTC did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC. Ferguson, appointed as FTC chair by Trump, stated that he would follow lawful orders but would be surprised if directed to drop a lawsuit like the one against Meta. The FTC plays a crucial role as an antitrust watchdog in such cases. Lily JamaliMelaporkan dariSan FranciscoReuters Dalam beberapa tahun terakhir, lembaga ini telah mengembalikan ratusan juta dolar kepada korban penipuan, selain juga meloloskan undang-undang yang melarang biaya sampah dan perangkap langganan.
Tetapi saat persidangan Meta dimulai, ini termasuk di antara banyak lembaga pengatur independen yang tampaknya ingin ditekan oleh pemerintahan.
Ketua Ferguson baru-baru ini juga dikutip menguatkan keyakinannya bahwa lembaga pengatur independen “tidak baik untuk demokrasi.”
‘Perjuangan mendaki’ FTC
FTC v Meta dimulai sebagai kasus antitrust besar lainnya – AS v Google – bersiap memasuki apa yang dikenal sebagai tahap penyelesaian.
Departemen Kehakiman memenangkan fase pertama kasus tersebut musim panas lalu ketika Hakim Amit Mehta menemukan bahwa Google memegang monopoli dalam pencarian online, dengan pangsa pasar sekitar 90%.
Bulan lalu, DOJ mengulangi permintaan yang dibuat selama pemerintahan Biden agar pengadilan memecah monopoli pencarian Google.
Kasus FTC terhadap Meta akan lebih sulit untuk dibuktikan, kata Laura Phillips-Sawyer, seorang profesor asosiasi hukum bisnis di Universitas Georgia.
“Saya pikir mereka memiliki pertempuran mendaki yang nyata,” kata Ms Phillips-Sawyer tentang FTC.
“Mereka memiliki perjalanan panjang sebelum pertimbangan divestasi Instagram atau WhatsApp dipertimbangkan.”
Karena dibandingkan dengan pencarian online, ada lebih banyak kompetisi di ruang layanan jaringan pribadi yang Meta operasikan, kata Ms Phillips-Sawyer.