Meta Platforms Inc. ($META) won a major legal victory Tuesday after a federal judge ruled that its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp do not violate U.S. antitrust law, dealing a significant setback to the Federal Trade Commission’s yearslong effort to unwind the deals.
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg determined the FTC failed to prove Meta’s past acquisitions created an illegal monopoly in social networking.
- The ruling resolves a lawsuit first filed in 2020 during the Trump administration seeking to force Meta to divest Instagram and WhatsApp.
- Meta is on pace to spend over $25 million on corporate lobbying in 2025, including more than $5 million in Q3 alone.
- Meta was also among corporate contributors to the recent Trump Ballroom fundraising initiative, which raised more than $300 million.
- Meta’s lobbying activity data is available here: META Lobbying Page.
Relevant Companies
- Meta Platforms ($META) – Directly impacted by the ruling, which preserves ownership of Instagram and WhatsApp and reduces regulatory overhang.
Editor’s Note: This is a developing story. This article may be updated as more details become available.
