U.S. PIRG supports FTC antitrust case vs. Facebook

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Federal Trade Commission files amended complaint

U.S. PIRG

WASHINGTON —  In one of the highest-profile Federal Trade Commission actions since new Chairperson Lina Khan took office, the watchdog agency has filed a new antitrust complaint against the social media giant Facebook. According to an FTC news release, the agency’s amended filing contends “that Facebook is a monopolist that abused its excessive market power to eliminate threats to its dominance.” In June, a federal judge dismissed an earlier FTC complaint on the topic. 

In response, U.S. PIRG’s Senior Director for Consumer Programs Ed Mierzwinski released the following statement:

“The FTC’s newly-amended antitrust complaint alleges that Facebook’s growth into a social media behemoth was aided by an “illegal-buy-or-bury scheme” implemented after its “failed attempts” at innovation. Fortunately, while Facebook could buy or bury competitors, it can neither buy nor bury the revitalized FTC under new Chairperson Lina Khan. 

“Yes, Congress still needs to give our antitrust enforcers better tools, but it’s clear that this FTC will fight to protect consumers and competitors with the tools it has.”

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