
A federal judge has ruled that the Federal Trade Commissionβs revised antitrust suit against Meta, formerly known as Facebook, can proceed, shutting down the social media companyβs request for a dismissal.
In a revised complaint filed last August, the FTC argues that the company pursued a βbuy or buryβ strategy against rivals to suppress competition.
This is the FTCβs second antitrust run at the company. A federal judge in June dismissed antitrust lawsuits brought against Facebook by the agency and a broad coalition of state attorneys general that were among multiplying efforts by federal and state regulators to rein in tech titansβ market power.
The FTC is seeking remedies that could include a forced spinoff of Facebookβs popular Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services, or a restructuring of the company.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who in June ruled that the FTCβs original lawsuit was βlegally insufficientβ and didnβt provide enough evidence to prove that Facebook was a monopoly, said in Tuesday's ruling that the the first complaint βstumbled out of the starting blocks.β
But he added that, though the βcore theoryβ of the lawsuit β that Facebook is a monopoly engaging in anticompetitive behavior β remains unchanged, the facts alleged this time around are βfar more robust and detailed than before.β
Meta said in an emailed statement it is βconfident the evidence will reveal the fundamental weakness of the claims."
βOur investments in Instagram and WhatsApp transformed them into what they are today,β the company said. "They have been good for competition, and good for the people and businesses that choose to use our products.β
Holly Vedova, director of the FTC's bureau of competition, said the agency presented a "strong amended complaint a strong amended complaint, and we look forward to trial.β