Mark Zuckerberg testified in federal court Monday as the FTC tries to break up Meta by forcing it to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. The government claims the tech giant built an illegal monopoly by buying out rivals.
Key Facts:
- Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in the FTC’s federal antitrust trial in Washington, D.C.
- The FTC wants Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp, calling the deals illegal “killer acquisitions.”
- The trial could take two months and also include former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg.
- Meta argues it faces tough competition from TikTok, YouTube, iMessage, and others.
- Emails from Zuckerberg describing acquisitions as ways to “neutralize competitors” will be central to the case.
The Rest of the Story: Meta Antitrust Trial Explained
Mark Zuckerberg appeared in court as the first witness in a major trial that could reshape the future of Meta.
The Federal Trade Commission claims Meta illegally bought Instagram and WhatsApp to dominate the market for personal social networking.
FTC lawyers opened by calling Meta’s acquisitions “killer acquisitions,” pointing to internal messages showing Zuckerberg viewed Instagram as a competitive threat.
The agency argues Meta undermined rivals instead of improving its own products.
Meta pushed back, insisting it’s competing hard in an evolving market now driven more by entertainment than social networking.
Their legal team said the FTC’s case ignores competitors like TikTok and YouTube, and is detached from market realities.
MARK ZUCKERBERG ON TRIAL, FREE SPEECH IN JEOPARDY
Zuckerberg has been caught with communications to and from the government suppressing free speech on Meta owned apps. "The massive control that they still have over swaths of public life." @rachelbovard pic.twitter.com/T65udpy55X— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) April 14, 2025
Commentary: What Comes Next in the Meta Antitrust Fight
Regardless of how this trial ends, one thing is nearly certain: an appeal will follow.
This case is too important — and too expensive — for either side to let it go easily.
If the FTC wins, Meta is likely to fight the ruling all the way to the Supreme Court.
If Meta wins, the FTC may still try to regulate through other channels.
It’s also important to remember this is about more than one company.
If the government succeeds here, it sets a new precedent for revisiting mergers that were previously approved — even those that happened over a decade ago.
That has serious implications for every industry, not just tech.
Meta’s defense rests on its claim that it’s no longer just a social network but part of a broader entertainment and messaging ecosystem.
The FTC’s challenge is convincing the court that the market is still primarily about friends and family sharing updates — not viral videos and influencers.
Zuckerberg’s testimony is both symbol and strategy.
His presence reinforces that this isn’t some bureaucratic side issue — it’s about the core of one of the most powerful companies on the planet.
His words, demeanor, and past emails will all be scrutinized.
But the trial won’t wrap up quickly.
The testimony alone is expected to stretch for weeks.
Barring an unlikely settlement, Americans won’t see resolution anytime soon.
In the meantime, Meta will continue to operate as usual.
So while headlines may focus on courtroom drama, the real impact — if any — won’t come for years.
By then, the digital landscape could look entirely different.
The Bottom Line: What the Meta Antitrust Trial Means for Big Tech
This case isn’t just about Meta.
It’s a test of how the U.S. handles big tech and old mergers in a fast-changing digital world.
While the FTC seeks to unwind massive deals, Meta says the market has already moved on.
With long proceedings and likely appeals ahead, don’t expect quick change — but the outcome could ripple far beyond Silicon Valley.
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