Today's Edition
Washington (dpa)
Meta Platforms chief executive Mark Zuckerberg took the stand on Monday in an antitrust trial in Washington, defending acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp amid accusations from US regulators that Meta holds an illegal monopoly in the social media market.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which initially approved the acquisitions, accuses the company of acquiring the platforms to eliminate competition and is seeking consequences that include potentially reversing the deals.
In opening statements, FTC attorney Daniel Matheson said consumers are left with "no reasonable alternatives" to Meta's platforms.
Meta, which also owns Facebook, rejects the accusations, citing fierce competition from platforms such as TikTok.
Zuckerberg, beginning what is expected to be two days of testimony, defended the deals as necessary to adapt to a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
He described the shift in Facebook's focus from personal connections to curated content, noting that while friends and family sharing has declined, it remains part of the platform's identity.
He also emphasized the strategic value of messaging, calling it "symbiotic" with Facebook's broader services.
The FTC presented internal emails from 2011 and 2012 in which Zuckerberg acknowledged Instagram as a "viable competitor" in mobile photos and expressed concern that rivals like Google might acquire it first.
The trial is expected to last several weeks, with Judge James Boasberg setting trial dates until early July and it could take years for the case to be resolved.
It is considered highly likely that at least one of the sides will appeal, regardless of the outcome of the case.
Boasberg ruled on Monday that some witnesses should be questioned behind closed doors to protect trade secrets.
In 2012, Meta, known then as Facebook, bought Instagram for around $1 billion, and in 2014 it purchased WhatsApp for around $22 billion.
Instagram in particular has since become an important revenue generator for Meta.
