Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in a major antitrust trial defending Meta against FTC claims that it operates a social media monopoly. The FTC argues that Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram (2012) and WhatsApp (2014) were aimed at eliminating competition and is seeking to break up the company.

Axar.az reports that Zuckerberg defended the purchases, saying they were made to improve the apps and not to neutralize rivals.

He claimed Instagram was acquired for its camera tech, not its social network. The FTC cited internal emails, including a 2012 memo about "neutralizing" Instagram, calling it a "smoking gun."

Meta countered that the FTC had initially approved the deals and now wrongly wants to reverse them. The trial, expected to last two months, comes amid broader U.S. antitrust efforts, including ongoing cases against Google, Amazon, and Apple.

Meta, which has 3.27 billion daily users, also faces scrutiny over its ties to Trump, having contributed to his inauguration, added Trump allies to its board, and recently eased content moderation policies criticized by Republicans.