Consumer Watchdog Group Supports Meta’s Move for Summary Judgment in Antitrust Case

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara Zupkus, (224)-456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Facebook parent company Meta is moving for summary judgment in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) ongoing litigation against them regarding their acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp. The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) agrees with Meta in that the FTC has failed to show any evidence to support any of the elements it would need to demonstrate to win their case. The court should grant Meta’s request in order to deter further reckless antitrust adventurism by the commission.

In response, Patrick Hedger (TPA’s Executive Director), offered the following comment:

“The FTC, under Chair Lina Khan, has an overwhelmingly poor track record in antitrust litigation. This includes their prior suit against Meta for the laughable idea of monopolizing the  virtual reality fitness market. It is becoming increasingly clear that the FTC’s strategy is to punish American firms with the process itself.

“In this case, the commission is attempting to rewrite history, challenging acquisitions Meta (then Facebook) made more than a decade ago with the express approval of the FTC at the time. The last thing the economy needs is the paralyzing effect of a federal government that can punish companies years later via antitrust double jeopardy.

“Further, the agency has failed to demonstrate a coherent definition of the market Meta is supposed to have monopolized, to such an extent it excludes major platforms such as YouTube from its calculus. Thus, the FTC has failed to demonstrate any actual monopolistic power. They have also failed to provide evidence of any exclusionary conduct emanating from these acquisitions.

“Granting this movement for summary judgment would help take this tool of government harassment out of the FTC’s hands.”