Meta to stand trial in April 2024 over FTC's Instagram merger allegations

Meta Platforms will go to trial in April 2024 over allegations from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it illegally acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to eliminate competition. The FTC claims these purchases helped Meta maintain a monopoly in social media. The lawsuit, filed in 2020, argues that Meta overpaid for these platforms to stifle emerging threats rather than compete. A judge has set the trial date for April 14, rejecting Meta's request to dismiss the case. The judge noted challenges in the FTC's market definition, acknowledging that technological changes complicate the case. He indicated that the FTC's claims may face significant scrutiny during the trial.