goal It obtained an important court victory on November 18 after a federal court decision in Washington ruled that it should be purchased Instagram In 2012 and WhatsApp In 2014 it did not violate competition law USA.
The lawsuit filed by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) failed to prove that these acquisitions allowed Meta to illegally monopolize Meta Social media marketin a ruling that represents a precedent for the technology sector.
District judge James Bosberg He argued that the FTC had difficulties defining the market for Meta products because of the changing nature of applications and the constant addition of new features.
In his writings, Boasberg noted: “With apps that come and go, following one fad and moving on to another, and adding new features every year, the FTC has had difficulty defining market boundaries for Meta products.” The judge added that although Meta may have had monopoly power in the past, the agency had to prove it still held it, which it failed to prove, according to the ruling.
After knowing the decision, take action goal Cut losses in the market, and trade in US$597.71 Down 0.7% at 1:25 p.m. In New York. From the company’s official spokesman Christopher Sgro He celebrated the result and highlighted the current competition in the sector: “Today’s decision recognizes that Meta faces fierce competition.”
Sgro also highlighted the benefits of the company’s products to users and businesses, as well as their role in innovation and economic growth in the United States.
The case dates back to 2020, when Federal Trade Commission She filed a lawsuit against Meta – then known as Facebook – during the administration Donald TrumpHe accused the company of strengthening its dominant position by acquiring competitors instead of confronting them in the market.
The judicial process included a seven-week trial Mark ZuckerbergMeta’s CEO, testified for several days in April. Before his appearance, the company tried to reach an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to prevent Zuckerberg from testifying, but negotiations were unsuccessful.
During the trial, Federal Trade Commission He confirmed that Meta sought to strengthen its monopoly in the social networking sector that focuses on personal relationships by purchasing Instagram and WhatsApp.
For its part, Meta’s defense argued that competition in this sector is much broader, covering not only traditional social networks, but also short video platforms, commerce and private messaging. To support its position, the company provided testimonies from its representatives Reddit, S, Tik Tok and Pinterestwhich explained how their services compete for users’ attention and advertising revenue.
The decision represents a setback for the federal government’s efforts to regulate Big Tech companies and could impact future issues related to competition in the digital sector. the Federal Trade Commission He has not yet commented on the ruling.
In the context of the relationship between Meta and the Trump administration, Zuckerberg He sought to strengthen relations with the government, make changes in corporate policies and participate in meetings with technology leaders. In September, the manager attended a dinner in Washington with President Trump and announced investment plans 600,000 million US dollars In the United States until 2028.
At the conclusion of this judicial session, goal She reaffirmed her commitment to innovation and economic development, expressing her intention to continue cooperation with the authorities and continue investing in the country.
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