Washington, D.C. — April 14, 2025 — Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg took the stand Monday in a historic antitrust trial launched by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), marking a dramatic opening to a case that could reshape the tech industry by forcing the breakup of Meta’s social media empire.
The FTC is aiming to prove that Meta — through its acquisitions of Instagram (2012) and WhatsApp (2014) — unlawfully built a monopoly in the “personal social networking” market, harming competition, reducing privacy, and degrading user experience. At stake is the potential dismantling of the $1.4 trillion company, the biggest attempted breakup of a tech firm since AT&T’s 1984 divestiture.
Zuckerberg Pushes Back
FTC lead attorney Daniel Matheson opened by pressing Zuckerberg on whether Meta’s core mission centers on connecting users with “friends and family” — a claim central to the FTC’s narrowly defined market. But Zuckerberg sidestepped the framing, saying Facebook’s news feed has evolved into “more of a broad discovery-entertainment space,” not limited to personal connections.
This pushback strikes at the FTC’s efforts to isolate a market of just four players: Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, and a small app called MeWe — deliberately excluding major platforms like TikTok, YouTube, or iMessage. Meta’s defense, led by Marc Hansen of Kellogg Hansen, labeled that exclusion as “gerrymandering,” arguing it distorts the competitive landscape.
Government’s Core Allegation: Anti-Competitive Acquisitions
The government’s case centers heavily on internal Meta emails, including a now-infamous message in which Zuckerberg called Instagram “a threat” and justified its $1 billion acquisition as necessary because Meta “could not meet that threat through competition.”
“This wasn’t an investment — it was insurance,” said Matheson. “Meta bought out challengers before they could compete.”
The FTC says these takeovers ultimately harmed consumers, despite Meta’s platforms being free to use. Citing more ads on Instagram and reduced innovation, the FTC alleges users have paid the price through degraded experiences and privacy standards.
Meta’s team countered that ads can enhance user value, saying users often “click on them to learn more” or make purchases. Hansen also warned that retroactively undoing approved mergers sends a chilling message to startups and investors, discouraging innovation and exit opportunities.
“The FTC claims the mantle of competition while simultaneously attacking one of its biggest drivers,” said Hansen.
A Judge Skeptical of the FTC’s Case
Presiding over the trial is Judge James Boasberg, appointed by President Obama in 2011 and no stranger to this case — he dismissed the FTC’s first attempt in 2021, criticizing its lack of clear metrics. While allowing the revised suit to proceed, Boasberg noted the FTC’s legal theories are “testing the limits” of current antitrust laws.
This is a bench trial, meaning Boasberg alone will determine the outcome — no jury will be involved.
Political Undercurrents
Adding intrigue is Zuckerberg’s recent Oval Office meeting with President Trump, reportedly in a last-ditch effort to seek a pre-trial settlement. Trump’s recent actions — including firing Democratic FTC commissioners and gaining direct influence over the agency — have led legal analysts to question the traditional independence of the FTC.
Critics say these moves could politicize the outcome of what is supposed to be a nonpartisan, precedent-setting trial.
What’s Next
The trial is expected to span several weeks, with upcoming testimony from former Meta executives, economists, and competing tech firms. The case’s outcome could reset how tech mergers are viewed — especially retroactive breakups — and serve as a bellwether for antitrust enforcement in the digital age.
If the FTC wins, it could mean Meta being forced to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, an extraordinary legal maneuver not attempted in four decades.
