Facebook Sued by FTC and<br />48 State Attorneys General<br />in Twin Lawsuits .<br />On Wednesday, a coalition of 48 state attorneys general<br />came forward to launch a lawsuit against Facebook.<br />Led by New York Attorney General Letitia James,<br />the group alleges that Facebook has been stifling<br />competition to protect its “monopoly power.” .<br />For nearly a decade, Facebook has used<br />its dominance and monopoly power to<br />crush smaller rivals and snuff out competition,<br />all at the expense of everyday users, Letitia James, via ABC News.<br />James also said Facebook has used its<br />suppression of competition to “take advantage of users”<br />and “make millions” by selling personal data.<br />The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)<br />also launched their own lawsuit against<br />Facebook on Wednesday. .<br />The separate lawsuit alleges that Facebook<br />has maintained its “monopoly” through the illegal<br />use of anticompetitive practices. .<br />Our aim is to roll back Facebook’s anticompetitive<br />conduct and restore competition so that innovation<br />and free competition can thrive, Ian Conner, director of FTC’s Bureau of Competition, via ABC News.<br />The FTC’s lawsuit names Facebook’s acquisition<br />of Instagram and WhatsApp as examples of unfairly<br />wielding its monopoly power. .<br />Facebook Vice President and General Counsel Jennifer Newstead<br />has since responded, saying antitrust laws don’t<br />exist to “punish successful businesses.” .<br />Instagram and WhatsApp became the<br />incredible products they are today<br />because Facebook invested billions of dollars,<br />and years of innovation and expertise, Jennifer Newstead, via ABC News.<br />She also accused the government<br />of wanting a “do-over,” as they initially<br />cleared the acquisitions years ago.
