Meta wins antitrust case over apps

A federal judge has ruled that Meta Platforms does not hold a social media monopoly, dismissing the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s bid to force a breakup of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC alleged that Meta acquired the platforms to suppress competition, but the court sided with Meta, marking a major victory for Big Tech and the first major antitrust setback for U.S. regulators in their recent crackdown. “We are deeply disappointed in this decision,” said FTC spokesperson Joe Simonson. Meta responded: “Our products . . . exemplify American innovation.” The ruling may influence ongoing regulatory actions, including a parallel case against Amazon.