Facebook seeks to dismiss lawsuit to force sale of Instagram, WhatsApp
(Reuters) — Facebook Inc. asked a judge on Monday to dismiss the U.S. government's revised antitrust case that seeks to force the social media giant to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.
Facebook said in a court filing that the Federal Trade Commission had failed to provide a “plausible factual basis for branding Facebook an unlawful monopolist.” The company added it appears the FTC “had no basis for its naked allegation that Facebook has or had a monopoly.”
The social media giant asked that the lawsuit be dismissed with prejudice, which would make it harder for the agency to amend the lawsuit. The FTC declined to comment.
Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled in June that the FTC's original complaint filed in December failed to provide evidence that Facebook had monopoly power in the social-networking market.
The FTC's amended complaint, filed in August, added more detail on its accusation the social media company crushed or bought rivals and again asked Judge Boasberg to order the sale of Instagram and WhatsApp.
The FTC argued at length in its revised complaint that Facebook dominates the U.S. personal social networking market with more than 65% of monthly active users since 2012.
Facebook's filing said the FTC's complaint was “at odds with the commercial reality of intense competition with surging rivals like TikTok and scores of other attractive options for consumers.”
