Meta Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg on Wednesday denied the court that his company bought rival services Instagram and WhatsApp to neutralize him, as his testimony in a historic antitrust case came to a close.
The case may force Facebook owner to divide themselves two apps, which have evolved into the global powerhouse since their purchase.
During its third and last day at the stand in a federal court in Washington, Zuckerberg targeted the main argument of the Federal Trade Commission – that Facebook saw it as competitive hazards since changing the name of the meta.
When asked by Meta Attorney Mark Hansen, Facebook co-founder responded to “no”, if his intention was to eliminate rivals with the purchase of photo sharing app Instagram and messaging service WhatsApp.
He explained that the Instagram, purchased in 2012, was attractive to “its camera and photo sharing experience”, but he said he did not see it as a broad network, where we were really competitive. ,
For WhatsApp, purchased two years later, Zuckerberg testified that he had seen the app as technically impressive, but its founders as “dislikes” as “disabled” to maximize the effect “that they could be potentially. ,
“I basically insisted on adding things,” he told the court.
Zuckerberg testified that Facebook has now put its scale and resources in apps used by billions of people for the manufacture of Instagram and WhatsApp.
Former Meta Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg testified after Zuckerberg, which he had told the court, echoed a lot.
According to Sandberg, Meta has had to be taken to an array of rivals including the Internet Kolosus Google, as the Internet competition has become increasingly competitive.
“Every time you go on your computer or phone, you have an option as to what you spend your time,” Sandberg said.
“This is why all these manufacturers are competing: your time and attention.”
– Tiktok as new danger –
A major part of the court room battle is how the Federal Trade Commission defines the meta market for the judge.
The US government argues that Facebook and Instagram apps are prominent players who provide a way to connect with family and friends, a category that does not include Tikok and YouTube.
Meta defense lawyers said that adequate investment converted these acquisitions into today’s blockbusters. They also throw light on the fact that meta apps are free for users and face fierce competition.
The case was originally filed in December 2020, in the last days of the first administration of President Donald Trump.
Zuckerberg, the world’s third largest person, has repeatedly visited the White House as he has tried to convince the President to choose the settlement instead of fighting the trial.
As part of his lobbying efforts, Zuckerberg contributed to Trump’s inaugural fund and overhell material moderation policies.
He also bought a $ 23 million mansion in Washington, which was seen as a dialect to spend more time to the center of political power.
Zuckerberg on Wednesday gave a 12 -hour testimony with Tiktok’s assessment, stating that there is probably the biggest competitive threat to Instagram and Facebook.
Meta has seen the growth of its apps slow as the China-based video-snipat sharing sensation has risen, so the US Tech Titan, according to Zuckerberg, added a ticket-like reels feature to set fire to the marketplace.
“Tiktok is still bigger than Facebook or Instagram, and I do not like it when our competitors do better than us,” he told the court.
And as the video has developed into a favorite form of online media, especially on smartphones, a serious competition for YouTube Meta has become a testimony, the chief executive testified.
(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is published by a syndicated feed.)
