Facebook filed motions to dismiss antitrust lawsuits brought by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general.
, the world’s biggest social media company, filed motions Wednesday to dismiss antitrust lawsuits brought by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general — claiming that, contrary to the government allegations, its megadeals for Instagram and WhatsApp have benefited consumers and boosted competition. In coordinated suits filed last December, the FTC and more than 40 state AGs said Facebook acquired Instagram and WhatsApp in violation of U.S. antitrust laws. The suits charged that the company’s unlawful monopoly has let it dictate how users’ private information is collected and monetized and that Facebook has imposed anticompetitive conditions on third-party developers. Facebook, in a statement after filing the motions, argued that its acquisitions “have been good for competition, good for advertisers and good for people.” “Our products remain popular because we constantly evolve, innovate and invest in better experiences for people against world-class competitors,” the company said.
