Anthropic's analysis of 500,000 coding conversations reveals startups use AI coding tools 20% more than enterprise companies, pointing to a growing tech divide.
Battle for Meta's Future: Instagram and WhatsApp Hang in Balance
Mark Zuckerberg faces his toughest legal challenge yet. The Federal Trade Commission wants to break up his $1.4 trillion empire. The trial starting today could force Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp.
It's a case that began under Trump's first term but now plays out in a dramatically different political landscape. Zuckerberg isn't taking chances. He recently visited Trump in the Oval Office, reportedly seeking a settlement. The meeting highlights how drastically the terrain has shifted since Meta's CEO testified before Congress about privacy concerns in 2018.
The FTC claims Meta bought Instagram and WhatsApp to crush competition. Zuckerberg's own words might come back to haunt him. "It's better to buy than compete," he wrote in emails that could feature prominently at trial.
Zuckerberg's Own Words Under Scrutiny
Meta calls the case ridiculous. "The evidence will show what every 17-year-old knows," says company spokesperson Christopher Sgro. "Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp compete with TikTok, YouTube, X, and iMessage."
Judge James Boasberg will decide the case without a jury. He's already shown skepticism toward the FTC's arguments, calling them a stretch of "creaking antitrust precedents."
Political Shake-up at FTC
The political drama intensified last month when Trump fired two Democratic FTC commissioners. The move left Republicans in control and raised questions about the agency's independence.
Andrew Ferguson, Trump's new FTC chair, says his team is "raring to go" against Meta. But he's also stated he would "obey lawful orders" if Trump directed him to drop the case.
The trial marks a historic moment in tech regulation. Not since AT&T's breakup 40 years ago has the government attempted to dismantle such a large company.
Meta's defense rests on a simple argument: Instagram succeeded because Facebook improved it. The company will likely show how the photo-sharing app benefited from Meta's resources and expertise.
Zuckerberg's relationship with Trump adds another layer of intrigue. Once frosty after Meta banned Trump following the Capitol riot, their dynamic has thawed. Meta has made moves that appear designed to curry favor with Republicans, including adding UFC boss and Trump ally Dana White to its board.
The trial could stretch into summer. Both Zuckerberg and former COO Sheryl Sandberg will testify, along with executives from rival platforms like Snap, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Breaking Up a Tech Giant
For Zuckerberg, the witness stand is familiar territory. He's testified in Congress eight times and in court twice – more than any other major tech CEO. This time could prove more grueling, with FTC lawyers planning to grill him for seven hours about Meta's acquisition strategy.
The stakes couldn't be higher. A loss could tear apart the social media empire Zuckerberg spent two decades building. But even if the FTC wins, Trump's influence over the agency raises questions about whether any breakup order would stick.
Why this matters:
This trial tests whether antitrust law can handle modern tech giants. If Meta keeps Instagram and WhatsApp, it could signal that companies can buy competitors without consequences.
Trump's shadow over the FTC creates an unprecedented situation: A president's relationship with a CEO could determine if a trillion-dollar company stays whole.
Anthropic's analysis of 500,000 coding conversations reveals startups use AI coding tools 20% more than enterprise companies, pointing to a growing tech divide.
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