FTC to Appeal Ruling That Cleared Meta of Social Networking Monopoly Claims

The Federal Trade Commission said Tuesday it will appeal a November court decision that found Meta Platforms does not hold a monopoly in personal social networking, signaling the agency’s intent to continue one of the most consequential antitrust fights against Big Tech.

The FTC sued Meta in 2020, alleging the company unlawfully cemented monopoly power through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. But in November, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled against the agency, concluding that Meta competes in a broader market that includes platforms such as TikTok and YouTube.

“Our position has not changed,” said Joe Simonson, the FTC’s director of public affairs, adding that the agency believes Meta violated antitrust laws with the Instagram and WhatsApp deals. The FTC said it will file a notice of appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

In his ruling, Judge Boasberg emphasized that the competitive landscape has “changed markedly” since the case was filed and that the FTC failed to demonstrate Meta still holds monopoly power today. “Whether or not Meta enjoyed monopoly power in the past,” he wrote, “the agency must show that it continues to hold such power now.”

FTC officials argue the court erred by defining the market too broadly. The agency maintains that TikTok and YouTube are not direct substitutes for Meta’s core products, which it says are primarily designed around sharing content among friends and family.

Meta welcomed the appeal but defended the ruling. Company spokesperson Andy Stone said the decision “recognizes the fierce competition we face,” adding that Meta will remain focused on innovation and investment in the U.S.

The appeal keeps alive a case with major implications for how U.S. regulators define digital markets—and whether past tech acquisitions can be unwound years after the fact.