Meta’s potential deals with Trump raise eyebrows as antitrust scrutiny intensifies and policy changes loom.
At a Glance
- Outgoing FTC Chair Lina Khan warns of possible “sweetheart deals” between Meta and Trump administration
- Meta faces ongoing antitrust lawsuit filed by FTC in 2020
- Mark Zuckerberg announces significant changes to Meta’s content moderation policies
- Meta’s policy shifts and interactions with Trump raise questions about strategic positioning
FTC Chair Sounds Alarm on Potential Meta-Trump Deals
Outgoing Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan has raised concerns about the possibility of Meta seeking favorable settlements from the incoming Trump administration in ongoing antitrust lawsuits. Khan, known for her aggressive stance against big tech companies, highlighted the FTC’s success in litigations against Amazon and Facebook, suggesting these companies might be looking for “sweetheart deals” to avoid liability.
The FTC filed an antitrust lawsuit against Meta in 2020, accusing the tech giant of maintaining an illegal monopoly through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. This case is scheduled for trial in April after a federal judge denied Meta’s request for summary judgment.
FTC Chair Khan discussing Meta's rollback on fact-checking: Calls out the problem with a "single company or single executive" making decisions about everyone's speech as a market issue and warns of "sweetheart deals" by execs w/ Trump, especially ahead of Meta's antitrust case pic.twitter.com/LXKQt1OWYN
— Zamaan Qureshi (@zamaan_qureshi) January 7, 2025
Meta’s Policy Overhaul and Trump Connections
Amid these legal challenges, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced significant changes to the company’s content moderation policies. These include ending its fact-checking program in favor of a community-based approach called “Community Notes.” The company also plans to alter policies on gender and immigration and relocate its trust and safety teams from California to Texas.
“The recent elections also feel like a cultural tipping point towards, once again, prioritizing speech” – Mark Zuckerberg
These changes are reportedly influenced by the recent election, with Zuckerberg emphasizing a return to prioritizing free speech. The timing of these policy shifts, coupled with Meta’s interactions with Trump, has raised eyebrows in the tech and political spheres.
On CNBC this morning, outgoing FTC chair Lina Khan – who has been pursuing a huge antitrust case against Meta – said the company might “want a sweetheart deal” from the Trump administration, “and I hope future enforcers wouldn’t give them that.” https://t.co/6irhsFHJdM
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 7, 2025
Meta’s Strategic Positioning and FTC’s Concerns
Meta’s actions suggest a strategic repositioning in response to changing political dynamics. Zuckerberg met with President-elect Trump, and Meta donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund. Additionally, Dana White, UFC CEO and Trump supporter, was announced as a new member of Meta’s board of directors.
“It is true that the FTC has been very successful, including in its ongoing litigations against Amazon and Facebook. And so, it’s only going to be natural that those companies are going to want to come in and see, can they get some type of sweetheart deal” – Lina Khan
Khan’s warnings about potential “sweetheart deals” reflect broader concerns about the intersection of big tech, politics, and antitrust enforcement. As Meta navigates these complex waters, the outcome of its antitrust case and any potential settlements will be closely watched by regulators, industry observers, and the public alike.
