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Meta Requests Court to Dismiss FTC’s Monopoly Allegations Due to Insufficient Evidence

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Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook, has requested a federal judge to dismiss the ongoing antitrust case brought by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC alleges that Meta holds an illegal monopoly in the social media market, particularly through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. However, Meta argues that the agency has failed to provide sufficient evidence to support these claims in the trial, which has been unfolding since mid-April in Washington, D.C.

The FTC’s case centers on the idea that Meta, formerly known as Facebook, unlawfully maintained its dominance by purchasing potential competitors, thereby stifling competition in the social media space. The agency seeks to reverse these acquisitions, which occurred over ten years ago, aiming to restore competition. Meta counters this by asserting that these acquisitions did not create a monopoly, and instead, the company has faced growing competition, especially from newer platforms like TikTok.

During the trial, Meta highlighted evidence showing that WhatsApp, one of its acquisitions, did not have ambitions to become a direct competitor to Facebook at the time of purchase. Furthermore, Meta presented testimony suggesting that Instagram actually experienced significant growth following its acquisition. Meta also stressed that the FTC failed to demonstrate a clear distinction between various social media apps focused on friends-and-family sharing — such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat — and TikTok, a platform that Meta claims has pushed it to innovate and adapt.

If the judge grants Meta’s motion to rule on the current evidence, the trial could conclude much sooner, potentially ending before June. However, the court could also decide to let the trial continue with both parties presenting further evidence. As the legal battle continues, the outcome could have significant implications for how major tech companies operate and acquire rivals in the competitive social media landscape.

Meta to Enable Secure AI Features in WhatsApp Using Private Processing Technology

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Meta is introducing a groundbreaking technology known as Private Processing, aimed at bringing artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities to WhatsApp without compromising user privacy. This innovation marks a significant step in integrating AI tools into messaging platforms while maintaining the strict privacy standards WhatsApp is known for. On Tuesday, Meta offered an early preview of how this system works, highlighting the measures taken to ensure that both user data and interactions with AI remain secure and inaccessible to anyone outside of the conversation.

According to Meta, Private Processing ensures that messages exchanged with the AI and the AI-generated responses are encrypted and protected in a way that even Meta itself cannot access them. This technology is designed to uphold WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption model while enabling users to benefit from powerful AI features. Whether users are seeking assistance in drafting messages, summarizing conversations, or managing their chats, Private Processing ensures that all data handling occurs within a protected environment.

To support transparency and foster trust, Meta also revealed its plan to share details of the layered infrastructure behind Private Processing. This includes publishing some of the underlying technical components, allowing independent researchers and the broader tech community to evaluate and better understand the system’s security architecture. Meta emphasized that the project is still in development, and more updates will follow as the technology approaches public deployment.

Ultimately, the goal of Private Processing is to provide seamless access to Meta’s AI—such as summarizing unread chats or suggesting text—without raising alarms about user data being stored or analyzed on central servers. By preserving the core principles of privacy and data control, Meta hopes to deliver a new generation of intelligent features on WhatsApp that feel both useful and trustworthy.

Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg Considered Instagram Spinoff Amid Ongoing Antitrust Scrutiny, Documents Reveal

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In 2018, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg seriously considered spinning off Instagram, fearing increasing antitrust scrutiny, according to a document presented during a trial in Washington. The document was revealed on the second day of Zuckerberg’s testimony in a high-profile case where the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is attempting to reverse Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. This legal battle aims to undo the mergers, which the FTC claims reduced competition in the social media market.

The memo, shown during the trial, revealed Zuckerberg’s candid thoughts on the matter. In it, he mused, “I wonder if we should consider the extreme step of spinning Instagram out as a separate company.” At the time, Meta was contemplating a major reorganization, aiming to better integrate its social media platforms. However, Zuckerberg also acknowledged that consolidating the apps could foster “strong business growth,” even though it could risk undermining Facebook’s flagship app and its broader family of services.

Despite these concerns, Meta ultimately decided against spinning off Instagram, choosing instead to push forward with its integration plans the following year. The decision not to break off Instagram underscores Zuckerberg’s assessment of the antitrust risks at play. The document reflects his awareness of the potential legal and regulatory challenges Meta might face, with antitrust pressure mounting in the tech industry.

Zuckerberg’s memo also highlighted a broader concern about the future of big tech. He expressed that, with rising calls to dismantle large tech corporations, it was likely that Meta could face forced separations in the future. Specifically, he noted that a shift in U.S. leadership, particularly under a “next Democratic president,” could lead to actions to break up major tech companies, including Meta’s prized acquisitions like Instagram and WhatsApp.