Antitrust case of the year: Meta and Google under attack

The United States is intensifying its crackdown on Big Tech. First Meta — now it's Google's turn. Both companies are facing significant setbacks in court, and the stakes go far beyond fines. The possibility of breaking up these tech giants is becoming very real.

Meta: FTC Demands the Sale of Instagram and WhatsApp

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) accuses Meta of monopolizing the social media market by acquiring potential rivals:

• Instagram (2012)

• WhatsApp (2014)

The aim of the lawsuit is to enforce divestiture and restore market competition. If the court sides with the FTC, Meta could be forced to sell off its most profitable platforms, which currently generate billions in revenue.

Google: Court Ruling Calls for Splitting Up the Ad Business

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has secured a second consecutive antitrust win against Google, this time targeting its dominance in advertising technologies:

• Google must sell Google Ad Manager, which includes the publisher ad server and the AdX exchange

• Even Chrome is under potential scrutiny for divestiture

The court ruled that Google has been abusing its market dominance by tying services together and suppressing competition, thereby harming publishers, businesses, and consumers alike.

For many, this outcome is seen as a consequence of years of unfair account and ad campaign restrictions.