FTC eyes antitrust suit against Facebook: report

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is considering filing an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook by the end of the year, The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday night.

The case would be the culmination of a more than yearlong investigation by the regulator body into concerns that the social media platform has been stifling competition.

People familiar with the matter told the Journal that no final decision has been made over whether to file a suit.

Spokespeople for the FTC and Facebook declined to comment on the Journal’s report.

Mark Zuckerberg reportedly testified before the FTC in August, signaling that the investigation may be reaching its final stages.

The FTC has already conducted one probe into Facebook, which ended in a $5 billion settlement.

That investigation was launched in March 2018 after reports that data from tens of millions of Facebook users was shared with Cambridge Analytica. The probe had focused on whether the social media giant violated a 2011 consent agreement with the FTC requiring greater privacy protections and transparency for users.

The current investigation reportedly is focused on Facebook’s past acquisitions, including WhatsApp and Instagram.

Facebook has pointed out that both were approved by the regulatory body at the time.

–Updated at 10:15am