FTC’s Meta Monopoly Case Crumbles—But the Tech Giant’s Legal Shield Holds

The FTC’s antitrust war against Meta just got a major setback—but the battle isn’t over.

A federal judge ruled Meta does not hold an illegal monopoly over personal social networking services. The decision dismissed the FTC’s claim that Meta’s dominance was sustained through acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

Judge James Boasberg specifically questioned the FTC’s market definition, citing TikTok’s emergence and shifting user behavior over five years as evidence of competitive pressure.

Meta spokesperson Chris Sgro said:

"The District Court’s decision to reject the FTC’s arguments is correct, and recognizes the fierce competition we face."

The FTC countered that Meta’s acquisitions stifled competition. Director Daniel Guarnera stated:

"The U.S. economy thrives when competition can flourish... The Trump-Vance FTC will continue fighting its historic case against Meta."

The agency plans to appeal the ruling to the US Court of Appeals in DC.