FTC will appeal ruling in Meta antitrust case over Instagram, WhatsApp deals
Jan 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will file an appeal seeking to revive its case accusing Facebook parent company Meta Platforms of bolstering an illegal monopoly by acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp, the FTC's spokesperson said on Tuesday. Meta defeated the case last year when U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington ruled that the company does not hold a monopoly now because it faces competition from TikTok. The agency sought to force Meta to restructure or sell Instagram and WhatsApp to restore competition, saying the company spent billions of dollars on the acquisitions to eliminate nascent competitors. (Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Nia Williams and Franklin Paul)
