Zuckerberg Testifies in Landmark Antitrust Trial Over Instagram, WhatsApp Acquisitions

In a high-stakes antitrust trial in Washington, D.C., Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced intense questioning on April 15, 2025, regarding the company's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) contends these purchases were illegally anticompetitive [1][2][3].

Zuckerberg struggled to defend the rationale behind Facebook's $1 billion acquisition of Instagram in 2012, a deal now under scrutiny more than a decade later [1]. The trial, which could potentially lead to the breakup of Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has global implications for tech industry regulation and social media landscapes worldwide.

During his second day of testimony, Zuckerberg attempted to justify the acquisitions by stating, "Building a new app is hard. We've probably tried building dozens of apps over the history of the company, and the majority of them haven't worked out" [4]. This statement came in response to questions about a 2012 email suggesting his intent to purchase Instagram.

The FTC's legal team pressed Zuckerberg on whether the acquisitions were meant to "neutralize" potential competitors. The CEO's responses and the outcome of this trial could set precedents for how antitrust laws are applied to tech giants globally in the rapidly evolving digital economy.

As the trial continues, it remains to be seen how Zuckerberg's testimony will impact the court's decision and what consequences may arise for Meta, one of the world's most influential tech companies. The case highlights ongoing debates about market competition, innovation, and regulation in the tech sector across various countries.