The Federal Trade Commission is pressing forward with its antitrust battle against Meta, filing an appeal of a November 2025 court ruling that dismissed the agency’s monopolization case.

What Happened

In November 2025, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled in Meta’s favor, concluding that the social media giant did not violate antitrust laws through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp over a decade ago. The judge determined that Meta faces sufficient competition from rivals like TikTok and YouTube to prevent it from exercising monopoly power.

This decision ended a legal battle that began in 2020, when the FTC originally claimed Meta secured an illegal monopoly by purchasing its competitors.

The FTC’s Appeal

On Tuesday, the FTC filed a notice of appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, beginning what could be a lengthy legal process potentially reaching the Supreme Court. The agency remains steadfast in its position that Meta violated antitrust laws through its strategic acquisitions.

“Meta has maintained its dominant position and record profits for well over a decade not through legitimate competition, but by buying its most significant competitive threats,” said Daniel Guarnera, director of the FTC’s competition bureau.

Core Dispute

The disagreement centers on how to define Meta’s market and competitive landscape. The FTC argues that Facebook and Instagram serve different purposes than TikTok or YouTube—focusing on connecting users with friends and family rather than entertainment consumption. However, Judge Boasberg rejected this distinction, writing that “YouTube and TikTok belong in the product market, and they prevent Meta from holding a monopoly”.

An FTC official criticized the judge’s approach, claiming he “took a very odd path” by basing his ruling solely on Meta’s market position at trial rather than examining a longer historical period.

Broader Big Tech Crackdown

The Meta appeal comes as part of a larger government effort against major technology companies. The government has launched five major antitrust cases against tech giants in recent years, including two separate cases against Google. However, enforcement efforts have faced mixed results in court, with judges declining to order breakups in several high-profile cases.

Meta responded to the appeal with confidence, stating that the court’s decision “is correct, and recognizes the fierce competition we face”.

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