Federal Trade Commission
12/03/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/03/2021 14:09
Facebook, Inc., FTC v.
Facebook, Inc., FTC v.
Tags:
Last Updated: December 3, 2021
Case Status:
Pending
Federal Trade Commission, Plaintiff v. Facebook, Inc., Defendant
FTC Matter/File Number:
191 0134
Federal Court:
District of Columbia
Case Summary
The Federal Trade Commission has sued Facebook, alleging that the company is illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a years-long course of anticompetitive conduct. The complaint alleges that Facebook has engaged in a systematic strategy-including its 2012 acquisition of up-and-coming rival Instagram, its 2014 acquisition of the mobile messaging app WhatsApp, and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers-to eliminate threats to its monopoly. The Commission vote to authorize staff to file for a permanent injunction and other equitable relief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia was 3-2. Commissioners Noah Joshua Phillips and Christine S. Wilson voted no.