The Brian Lehrer Show Meta's Big Antitrust Trial
Apr 15, 2025
Cristiano Lima-Strong, associate editor at Tech Policy Press, discusses the FTC's groundbreaking antitrust case against Meta, exploring accusations of monopolistic practices tied to Instagram and WhatsApp. He delves into the origins of the legal battle, driven by bipartisan concerns over tech giants. The conversation highlights Meta's complex relationship with politics, the implications of free services like WhatsApp, and how this trial could reshape the competitive landscape in social media. Lima-Strong provides a critical analysis of the evolving dynamics between tech, law, and society.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
FTC's Monopoly Claim Basis
- The FTC argues Meta acquired Instagram and WhatsApp to kill competition and maintain a monopoly in personal social networking.
- Meta bought these growing competitors to avoid facing market threats.
Meta Expands Competition View
- Meta claims it competes broadly with platforms like TikTok and YouTube for user attention, not just social networking.
- FTC counters that Meta's personal networking focus is unique compared to passive content consumption on other platforms.
Antitrust Challenges for Free Services
- Traditional antitrust focuses on price effects, but Meta’s free services require new frameworks.
- The FTC alleges Meta degraded Instagram and WhatsApp after acquisition due to lack of competition, harming quality.