The Federal Trade Commission is appealing last year's antitrust loss against Meta, which a judge dismissed for failing to prove the company holds a monopoly today. The regulator argues Meta's dominance stems from buying rivals like Instagram and WhatsApp, not legitimate competition. This move reignites a fight over the social media giant's acquisitions.

The case, filed in 2020, contends those deals harmed consumers by stifling competition. A trial featured testimony from Mark Zuckerberg and former executives about pressure from TikTok. Judge James Boasberg ruled that YouTube and TikTok's success means Meta doesn't currently monopolize the market, even if past actions were anti-competitive.

A successful appeal could force Meta to consider spinning off its prized assets. The appeal also complicates CEO Mark Zuckerberg's recent efforts to court the Trump administration while pledging massive U.S. investment in AI infrastructure. Meta maintains the original ruling was correct and will focus on innovation.