Washington, DC – In a Washington, DC courtroom, Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony concluded with a smile crossing his face. Throughout the trial, Zuckerberg defended Meta’s $19 billion acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014, stating that he would make the same decision again if given the chance. The trial, which began on April 14th, revolves around a Federal Trade Commission antitrust lawsuit seeking to unravel Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp, seen by the US government as moves aimed at stifling competition rather than enhancing the apps.
Over the course of the trial, Zuckerberg spent approximately 13 hours answering questions from both FTC and Meta lawyers. The focus of the trial on Wednesday was on refuting the claim that WhatsApp and Instagram were acquired to eliminate competition rather than to improve the apps. Zuckerberg acknowledged concerns about private messaging apps potentially evolving into social media giants but argued that the acquisitions were made to adapt to changing communication trends.
The trial delved into Zuckerberg’s relationship with WhatsApp co-founders, Jan Koum and Brian Acton, showcasing how he pushed for the addition of social features to the app post-acquisition. Documents presented in court detailed Zuckerberg’s strategy in acquiring WhatsApp as a valuable asset for navigating the shift towards private communication platforms and as leverage against tech giants like Apple and Google.
The Instagram acquisition was also scrutinized during the trial, with internal emails suggesting Zuckerberg’s aim to “neutralize” the app. Zuckerberg defended the acquisition, stating that he only grew concerned about Instagram competing with Facebook after it reached 1 billion users. He emphasized the support and resources provided to Instagram to combat spam and scale operations, highlighting the app’s exponential growth under Facebook’s ownership.
On the final day of his testimony, Zuckerberg portrayed Instagram and WhatsApp as successful investments that exceeded initial expectations, pushing back against the FTC’s claims of anti-competitive practices. Former Meta COO Sheryl Sandberg also testified, reflecting on her initial doubts about the Instagram acquisition, admitting she was mistaken in underestimating the app’s value. The trial continues to unfold as both sides present their arguments and evidence before the court in Washington, DC.