FTC revives antitrust case against Meta
The US regulator asks the appeals court to reopen the case over Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The US Federal Trade Commission is seeking to revive its antitrust case against Meta. The proceedings concern whether Meta strengthened its position in the social networking market by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp.
The FTC filed a new submission with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in late September. According to the regulator, the trial court misapplied the law and its market analysis.
The case began in 2020. The FTC argues that Facebook, now part of Meta, reduced competitive pressure for years by acquiring Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. The regulator also accuses Meta of imposing conditions on developers that could disadvantage competitors.
The federal court in Washington dismissed the case in November 2025, ruling in Meta’s favour. The FTC announced in January 2026 that it would appeal. The recent step therefore does not mean that Meta has already been found guilty or that a break-up has been ordered.
The proceedings are commercially significant because the FTC may seek to impose structural measures in the case. In earlier filings, the regulator mentioned the possibility of divesting Instagram and WhatsApp, although it has not yet been established which measure is legally or practically at issue.
Meta can defend itself in the appeal against the FTC’s legal reasoning and market definition. Among other things, the question is how to assess whether services such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other platforms constitute a single market or serve separate markets.
The case is relevant to European companies and users as a signal of the latitude regulators have to tackle major technology platforms. The US proceedings are separate from European rules, but could influence global acquisition strategies and platform policies.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The FTC is challenging Meta’s market power and acquisition strategy in a US lawsuit.
- A lower court previously ruled in Meta’s favour.
- The FTC has appealed that ruling.
- The court has not yet issued a definitive ruling on the substance of the case.
Left
Arguments Large platforms can acquire competitors before they mature, thereby limiting innovation and consumer choice. Tough action can prevent digital markets from becoming structurally dominated by a few companies.
Values Limiting power, consumer choice and fair competition.
Consequences An intervention could create room for new services, but could also reduce economies of scale and integration benefits for users.
Centre
Arguments Competition law should be applied on the basis of careful market research and evidence, without automatically penalising large companies because they are successful. The court must oversee the proportionality of any remedy.
Values Legal certainty, innovation and institutional oversight.
Consequences A lengthy process provides clarity for the future, but leaves companies and investors facing uncertainty.
Right
Arguments The government should be cautious about reversing legal acquisitions. Competition should primarily be assessed on current prices, quality and innovation, not on the size of a technology company.
Values Entrepreneurship, property rights and market forces.
Consequences Caution can encourage investment, but in this view may also do too little to address concentration of power before harm becomes visible.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The procedural status and the historical core of the case were checked with the FTC and a specialist legal source. The article avoids suggesting that the court has already issued a substantive ruling.
- confirmed The FTC has filed a new submission to revive the case against Meta. — MLex describes the FTC’s reply of 29 September 2026. source
- confirmed The FTC appealed a ruling that found in Meta’s favour. — This is stated in the FTC’s official press release from January 2026. source
- confirmed The case concerns, among other things, the acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. — The FTC’s official case description names both acquisitions. source
- confirmed The FTC has previously mentioned the possible divestiture of Instagram and WhatsApp as a remedy. — The FTC describes possible remedies in its public questions and answers about the case. source
Editor's note
The latest step is a procedural filing by the FTC; the court has not definitively reopened the case and Meta has not been found liable. The legal outcome remains uncertain.Sources
- US FTC files reply in support restarting monopoly case against Meta — MLex
- FTC Appeals Ruling in Meta Monopolization Case — Federal Trade Commission
- Facebook, Inc., FTC v. Meta Platforms, Inc. — Federal Trade Commission
- FTC Presses To Revive Antitrust Case Against Meta — MediaPost