Facebook Moves to Dismiss State & Federal Antitrust Lawsuits

By – Ashwathy Nair

Facebook asks the court to dismiss federal, state antitrust suits that accuse it of abusing.
The claim says, its conduct didn’t harm consumers or market competition.
The antitrust suits are seeking remedies that consist of a forced spinoff of the social network.

The social media giant, Facebook has asked a court for the dismissal of state and federal antitrust lawsuits that are accusing it of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller opponents.

On Wednesday, Facebook stated that the complaints do not convincingly claim that its conduct affected either consumers or market competition.

The antitrust suits, which was filed in December by the Federal Trade Commission along with 48 states, are trying to seek remedies that could be including a forced spinoff of the social network’s popular WhatsApp as well as Instagram services.

As it was stated that when the FTC along with the state attorneys general announced regarding this lawsuit and people around the world are using products not because they have to use them but due to the reason that these social networks make their lives better.

The FTC suit claims that Facebook has involved itself in a systematic strategy to suppress competition, including itself by buying smaller up-and-coming rivals such as Instagram in the year 2012 and WhatsApp in the year 2014. New York Attorney General Letitia James, in announcing the state lawsuit, repeated this sentiment, arguing that Facebook used its monopoly power to smash smaller competitors and eliminate competition, all at the expense of ordinary users.

The FTC along with the New York Attorney General’s office immediately did not respond to messages for comment.

Growing opposition from lawmakers is being faced by Big Tech companies on both sides of the aisle on the power that they have amassed over the past decade. There is a little likelihood that the pressure will be easing up. President Joe Biden stated that a breakup of tech giants should be seriously considered.

Facebook has been accused of anticompetitive behaviour by lawmakers as well as consumer advocates, most harshly being accused of buying up aspiring smaller rivals such as Instagram and WhatsApp and by copying its competitors.

Critics say that such strategies are crushing competition and it could limit viable alternatives for consumers looking, for example, it is for comparable services that do less tracking for targeted advertising. Businesses, which consist of mom and pop shops, might have to pay more for advertisements if they have a fewer choice to reach consumers online. It could take years for lawsuits to resolve.