Meta chief and co-founder Mark Zuckerberg took the stand Monday in a crucial US antitrust trial where Facebook is accused of unfairly acquiring Instagram and WhatsApp.

The trial in Washington shattered Zuckerberg’s hopes that the return of Donald Trump to the White House would lead to less antitrust scrutiny on Big Tech.

The FTC is leading the case against Meta, the parent company of Facebook, and if found guilty, Meta may have to divest Instagram and WhatsApp.

The trial will be overseen by Judge James Boasberg, who is handling other high-profile cases as well.

Zuckerberg, one of the wealthiest people globally, has been actively engaging with US authorities in hopes of a settlement.

As part of his lobbying efforts, Zuckerberg contributed to Trump’s inauguration fund and made significant changes to content moderation policies.

The Meta lawsuit is one of several antitrust cases initiated by the US government against major tech companies including Google, Apple, and Amazon.

Zuckerberg, along with other executives, is expected to testify in a trial that could last up to eight weeks.

The case focuses on Meta’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp and whether they were anticompetitive.

Defining the market

A crucial point in the trial will be how the FTC defines Meta’s market dominance.

The government argues that Facebook and Instagram dominate the social media app market, while Meta argues that they face competition from other platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

Lawyers are gearing up for a contentious trial where evidence and arguments will determine the outcome.