Meta has won a victory in court, with the judge ruling that it does not hold a monopoly in the social media market, thus undermining the FTC's action.

Meta has won a significant legal victory after federal judge James Boasberg decided that the FTC did not demonstrate that Meta exercises a monopoly in the social media market. The decision concludes a seven-month trial focused on the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, and represents a major setback for federal authorities challenging large mergers in the tech sector.

The judge emphasized that, although Meta had a dominant position in the past, the FTC did not prove current anti-competitive behaviors. Recent developments in social media, with a migration of users to platforms like TikTok and YouTube, have weakened the FTC's case. During the trial, Meta invoked competitive pressure and presented evidence that it is investing heavily to remain competitive. The judge's ruling rejects the FTC's request to block the acquisitions and to separate Instagram and WhatsApp, aligning with recent trends in technology antitrust.