Meta has thrown down the legal gauntlet, asking a federal judge to end the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case early, arguing the government simply hasn’t made its point.
The high-stakes trial, unfolding in Washington since April, centers on the FTC’s claim that Meta—formerly Facebook—cornered the market on personal social networking through its decade-old acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC wants to undo those deals. Meta says that’s a fantasy.
In a motion filed Thursday, Meta asked the judge to toss the case now, claiming the FTC’s entire argument is built on a flawed definition of what counts as a “personal social network.” In other words, Meta says the FTC is trying to force a monopoly narrative that doesn’t match reality—or the evidence.
So far, the trial has heard a mix of executive emails and market analysis. The FTC leaned on internal messages from CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressing concern over the growth of Instagram and WhatsApp. But Meta says context matters: WhatsApp, according to testimony, had no plans to compete with Facebook in the social media space, and Zuckerberg allegedly knew that when the acquisition happened. As for Instagram, Meta says its growth post-acquisition undercuts the idea it was smothered to eliminate competition.
Meta also questioned the FTC’s logic in separating apps like Facebook and Instagram from TikTok. If they’re all scrambling for eyeballs and screen time, Meta argues, they’re competitors. The company claims it has had to pivot and imitate TikTok just to keep up.
The FTC, by contrast, says TikTok and platforms like YouTube, Reddit, and X serve a different purpose—broadcasting to strangers, not sharing with friends and family.
Judge James Boasberg could rule on Meta’s motion before the trial wraps, which could be as soon as June. Or he might wait until all the evidence is in, followed by final briefs and closing arguments. If he sides with the FTC, the battle could move into a second phase: figuring out how to unwind the deals—or whether to at all.
In short, Meta’s message is clear: If the FTC can’t prove it, it shouldn’t pursue it. Whether the judge agrees is a decision that could reshape the future of social media power.
