A US federal judge has ruled that Meta is not a social-media monopoly, allowing the company to retain ownership of WhatsApp and Instagram. The decision marks a major win for CEO Mark Zuckerberg after a five-year legal battle in which the Federal Trade Commission accused Meta of buying rivals to stifle competition.
Judge James Boasberg said the FTC failed to prove that Meta limited consumer choice, noting that the social media landscape has evolved significantly since the case began. Meta argued that strong competitors like TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube show the market remains dynamic and competitive, a position the court ultimately agreed with.
