Zakerberg denies that Instagram and WhatsApp would have been aiming to neutralize competitors / day
In the Federal Court in Washington on Monday, a lawsuit began against « Meta » on charges of abusing market position to buy Instagram and WhatsApp.
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) believes that « Meta », which had already owned « Facebook », purchased « Instagram » in 2012 and in 2014 « WhatsApp » to eliminate competition, thus providing the company with a monopostatic.
The FTC evaluated and approved these transactions, but undertook to monitor their results. If the FTC wins this lawsuit, Zakerberg would have to sell both Instagram and WhatsApp.
Zakerberg turned to the FTC’s main argument on the last day of giving his testimony that both platforms were purchased with the aim of eliminating competition.
Co -founder of Facebok, Zakerberg, answered with « No » on « Meta » lawyer Mark Hansen’s question whether he had a purpose to eliminate competitors when he purchased « Instagram » and « WhatsApp ».
Zakerberg explained that the 2012 platform « Instagram » was attractive with « its camera and photo sharing experience », but added that « he did not » considered it a wide network that would be really competitive « in the fields of Facebook.
Speaking about WhatsApp, bought in 2014, Zakerberg testified that he had considered the app as technically impressive, but its founders « modest » in terms of « the ability to maximize the impact they might have. »
Zakerberg said in court that they had added them after the purchase of both platforms.
He testified that Facebook used its scale and resources to convert « Azstagram » and « WhatsApp » for apps now used by billions of people.
Former « Meta » CEO Sheril Sandberg, in testimonies after Zakerberg, was largely repeated by what he said.
She said that « Meta » had to compete with rivals like Google, as competition on the Internet has become increasingly stronger.
« Every time you enter your computer or on your phone, you have a choice to devote your time. All these producers compete exactly about it: your time and attention, » said Sandberg.
