47 votes

US FTC sues Facebook for illegal monopolization

11 comments

  1. [2]
    shiruken
    Link
    Losing Instagram and WhatsApp could legitimately kill Facebook.

    The FTC is seeking a permanent injunction in federal court that could, among other things: require divestitures of assets, including Instagram and WhatsApp; prohibit Facebook from imposing anticompetitive conditions on software developers; and require Facebook to seek prior notice and approval for future mergers and acquisitions.

    Losing Instagram and WhatsApp could legitimately kill Facebook.

    21 votes
  2. Deimos
    Link
    Tim Wu (who specializes in tech antitrust) just published an article about a few aspects of the case that the media seems to be getting wrong: Three things the press keeps getting wrong about the...

    Tim Wu (who specializes in tech antitrust) just published an article about a few aspects of the case that the media seems to be getting wrong: Three things the press keeps getting wrong about the Facebook antitrust case

    10 votes
  3. vord
    Link
    Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle next. Please and thank you. I'd like to avoid the seemingly inevitable Buy'N'Large situation.

    Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Oracle next. Please and thank you.

    I'd like to avoid the seemingly inevitable Buy'N'Large situation.

    7 votes
  4. [3]
    MonkeyPants
    Link
    What about Oculus?

    What about Oculus?

    6 votes
    1. [2]
      Omnicrola
      Link Parent
      I would love to see them split back off as well. Though the XR industry might be to new for FB's acquisition to be considered monopolistic? There's a lot of competition swirling around, though the...

      I would love to see them split back off as well. Though the XR industry might be to new for FB's acquisition to be considered monopolistic? There's a lot of competition swirling around, though the Quest has hit a very nice sweet spot in terms of usability/price/capability.

      6 votes
  5. ImmobileVoyager
    Link
    Sue Facebook seems hot as of lately. Could it be that law is finally catching up with tech ? Or will it petter out like when, early last century, law attempted to domesticate petroleum ? Beyond...

    Sue Facebook seems hot as of lately. Could it be that law is finally catching up with tech ? Or will it petter out like when, early last century, law attempted to domesticate petroleum ?

    Beyond tech, the articulation between advertising and politics never seems to be questionned. We may be shooting at the flag bearer while ignoring the villains' entrenched lairs.

    5 votes
  6. Deimos
    Link
    Casey Newton's thoughts in his newsletter, based on only reading through the FTC complaint so far (not the states' one yet): https://www.platformer.news/p/the-ftc-seeks-to-break-up-facebook

    Casey Newton's thoughts in his newsletter, based on only reading through the FTC complaint so far (not the states' one yet): https://www.platformer.news/p/the-ftc-seeks-to-break-up-facebook

    4 votes
  7. [2]
    moocow1452
    Link
    What would happen to all the apps that allow login with Facebook?

    What would happen to all the apps that allow login with Facebook?

    2 votes
    1. Diff
      Link Parent
      Depends on how it's designed. Some just straight up die if they're not able to connect to Facebook, even if it's only one of the possible options. I'm not sure I see that being affected here though.

      Depends on how it's designed. Some just straight up die if they're not able to connect to Facebook, even if it's only one of the possible options. I'm not sure I see that being affected here though.

      2 votes