A 2018 internal memo written for Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg and other company executives shows that Facebook was more concerned about business threats caused by its Instagram and WhatsApp apps and additional internal products than it was about competition with other social media platforms.
The memo maps out the company’s growth strategies and outlines the best ways to keep Instagram and What’sApp from slowing down its ascension, Bloomberg reported Tuesday (July 19). It played a key role in a recent congressional probe into competitive practices across the Big Tech landscape.
The House Judiciary Committee released the memo Tuesday as part of its final report on competition in digital markets after Meta turned it over voluntarily, the report stated.
Congress could vote on one of the measures proposed by the antitrust panel next week, according to the report. The American Innovation and Choice Online Act would force Meta and other Big Tech companies to provide the same level of access to its platforms that its own products have, meaning more ability for users to import contacts onto other social networks.
Meta, Google, Amazon and Apple all oppose the bill, which needs votes in the House and Senate before moving forward, the report stated.
Meanwhile, Meta’s purchase of the GIF search engine Giphy will be sent back to the United Kingdom antitrust regulator for a further review after a court flagged concerns with the agency’s initial investigation.
Read more: UK Court Sends Meta Giphy Case Back to Antitrust Watchdog
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked Meta’s acquisition of Giphy last year, due to concerns that it would hurt competitiveness in the market for display advertising and in the provision of gifs on Meta’s social media platforms.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) largely backed the CMA’s initial decision to force Meta to sell Giphy, but it ruled that the regulator failed to properly inform Meta of Snapchat’s acquisition of Gfyca, information that could have helped the company’s defense.
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