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Mark Zuckerberg is under the most pressure since Facebook was founded. In a Washington courtroom, he testified in person before a federal panel examining serious allegations against his company, Meta, for abusing its dominant market position and suppressing competition through its strategic acquisition of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The trial, which began yesterday, marks one of the largest legal challenges to a technology company in modern U.S. history. Zuckerberg, the first to be called to the witness stand, spent more than three hours describing Facebook's early days and the strategic decisions that led to the acquisition of two of the biggest apps of the time.
From startup to global powerhouse
At the heart of the case are two key acquisitions: Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for a staggering $19 billion. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), these moves were not aimed at developing the market, but at eliminating competition.
“Meta decided that the competition was too fierce and that it was easier to buy competitors than to face them,” said FTC representative Daniel Matheson. He added that the goal was “to eliminate immediate threats.”
Zuckerberg, under the microscope of internal evidence
In court, the FTC presented internal emails dating from 2011–2012. In one of them, Zuckerberg wrote: “The potential impact of Instagram is truly terrifying and we should consider paying a lot of money for it.” This message, according to the prosecution, constitutes evidence that the acquisition of Instagram was not simply a strategic decision, but a deliberate attack on competition.
Meta's lawyers dispute this approach. "Acquisitions that are intended to advance and improve companies are not illegal," said attorney Mark Hansen. He noted that Meta's investments have transformed Instagram and WhatsApp into successful platforms with billions of users.
If Meta loses, it could be forced to split from Instagram and WhatsApp – a development that would shake up the global tech order and set a dangerous precedent for other giants like Google, Amazon and Apple, which are also facing similar investigations and lawsuits.
For Zuckerberg, this trial is also a personal battle. He had tried to avoid the charges by approaching President Donald Trump's administration during his first term, hoping for an amicable settlement. But without success.
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