Key Excerpts: Meta Wins Bout with FTC Over Instagram, WhatsApp Deals

A United States federal judge ruled on Tuesday that Facebook-owner Meta is not a monopolist in its case against the Federal Trade Commission, dealing a massive blow to the US government’s efforts to rein in the tech giant and thwarting a potential spinoff of WhatsApp and Instagram.

The decision, the culmination of a historic legal battle that spanned three administrations over nearly five years, arguably marks the most significant setback to date for a US antitrust movement that has gained significant bipartisan traction in recent years — but largely failed to deliver the most sweeping changes it has sought after in the tech industry.

US District Court Judge James Boasberg wrote in a bruising opinion Monday that the FTC had failed to establish that Meta held a monopoly over what the agency called the “personal social networking” market, offering a distinct and singular tool to connect with friends and family.