Tech
WhatsApp and Instagram alert: this trial could change everything forever
A landmark lawsuit challenges the power of meta and could redefine the future of the digital ecosystem.
An unprecedented legal storm is raging at Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. The conflict could redraw the map of global technological power. Led by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a lawsuit has been filed that not only challenges Mark Zuckerberg’s business practices, but also seeks to dismantle part of his empire, forcing Instagram and WhatsApp to become independent companies.
The FTC accuses Meta of illegally maintaining its dominance in social networks through strategic acquisitions that eliminated potential competitors, weakened innovation, and reduced competition. This includes the purchases of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014, which prosecutors say were not simple business expansions but maneuvers to neutralize emerging threats.
A trial of technological strength
Meta has responded strongly, arguing that its success comes from efficient execution and constant innovation, and that reversing acquisitions approved years ago would be a retroactive punishment that would jeopardize the stability of its services. An argument that will play a key role in the trial.
Beyond the legal aspect, the case has a strong political and social component. In a context of growing distrust of large technology companies, the trial has become a symbol of the struggle for a more open and less concentrated Internet.
The dominance of large companies is at stake
A potential victory for the Federal Trade Commission could open the door to new regulations on platform interoperability and personal data portability, reducing the power of the digital giants. A sea change in the rules of the technology game.
The trial is already having an impact on the financial markets. Meta’s stock has fallen slightly since the trial began, a clear sign that investors are nervous about the potential disruption of the growth-by-acquisition model that has dominated Silicon Valley for more than two decades.
The outcome is still uncertain, but the stakes are enormous: not just the future of Meta, but the balance of power between the big tech companies. If the FTC is successful, WhatsApp and Instagram could once again walk separately... and that would change everything.
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