The lawsuit filed by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) mainly focuses on the acquisition of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014. The indictment alleges that Facebook removed potential competing social media sites on a “buy-or-burial” basis, hurting competitors. And their users, who consequently lost control of their personal information. The indictment also cites an internal letter in 2008 from Facebook leader Mark Zuckerberg in which the businessman wrote, “Buying is better than competition.”
“For nearly a decade, Facebook used its hegemonic and monopolistic site to crush its smaller competitors and eliminate competition, all at the expense of ordinary users. No company should have this much uncontrolled power over our personal and social interactions. That’s why we took this one. Move today. “
Said Letitia James, the attorney general of New York State, who is leading the prosecution.
In the lawsuit, the prosecution is asking the court to consider dismantling Facebook. That could mean separating Instagram and WhatsApp from Zuckerberg’s company. These two companies are good examples of the Facebook practices discussed above because the behemoth didn’t buy them when they were still looking like promising and innovative startups, but when they suddenly grew and emerged as a threatening competitor to Facebook.
(BBC)
