Facebook Files Motions to Dismiss Antitrust Cases

On March 10, Facebook filed motions for dismissal of antitrust cases that were brought by The Federal Trade Commission and a group of state attorneys general last December. The suits claim that Facebook bought Instagram and WhatsApp to squelch threats to the company’s business. In the motions to dismiss, Facebook claims that the two apps were “potential” competitors, not an immediate threat to its business. Facebook also argues that the commission doesn’t have sufficient grounds to reverse the decision it made to approve the Instagram and WhatsApp acquisitions when they were made. Beside the antitrust suits, the company is facing investigations by the federal government, states, and Congress about anti-competitive behavior.