Washington Post: ‘Second time lucky?’ Federal judge rules FTC’s case against Facebook can move forward

January 11, 2022 Media

A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust case against Facebook could proceed, a reversal of fortune for the agency after its first challenge against the social network was thrown out last year.

In a colorful order, U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg wrote that an amended complaint the agency filed in August offered “more robust and detailed” evidence to suggest Facebook has an alleged monopoly. In the filing, the FTC argued that Facebook is in a class of its own and should not be compared to other social apps such as TikTok.

“A few years ago, the thought of Facebook actually being broken up in courts was seen as nuts,” said Sarah Miller, executive director of the American Economic Liberties Project, an anti-monopoly advocacy group. “Today a judge is saying it is anyone’s guess whether this corporation is going to continue to operate under the same structure. I am pretty energized by that.”