WASHINGTON — Meta Platforms chief executive Mark Zuckerberg took the stand on Monday in an antitrust trial in Washington, defending acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp amid accusations from U.S. regulators that Meta holds an illegal monopoly in the social media market.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission accuses the company of acquiring the platforms to eliminate competition and is seeking consequences that include potentially reversing the deals.
In opening statements, FTC attorney Daniel Matheson said consumers are left with “no reasonable alternatives” to Meta’s platforms.
Zuckerberg defended the deals as necessary to adapt to a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
He described the shift in Facebook’s focus from personal connections to curated content, noting that while friends and family sharing has declined, it remains part of the platform’s identity.
The FTC presented internal emails from 2011 and 2012 in which Zuckerberg acknowledged Instagram as a “viable competitor” in mobile photos and expressed concern that rivals like Google might acquire it first.
The trial is expected to last several weeks.
