A PYMNTS Company

FTC Will Not Appeal Meta VR Acquisition Ruling

By  |  February 6, 2023

The Federal Trade Commission will not appeal the court ruling rejecting its attempt to block the acquisition of VR fitness company Within by Facebook and parent company Meta. 
The regulator’s decision marks a major win for Meta and draws renewed scrutiny on the agency’s capacity to successfully bring similar antitrust cases aimed at limiting Big Tech’s market dominance.
An FTC spokesperson revealed the decision during a press conference on Monday afternoon, effectively bringing an end to the agency’s two year battle to block Meta’s acquisition.

Read more: Meta Wins Ruling Against FTC In VR Purchase Case

The FTC’s decision to refrain from an appeal came hours after federal judge Edward Davila’s ruling rejecting the FTC’s effort was unsealed. Within makes the popular VR fitness app Supernatural. In its complaint, the FTC tried to argue that the proposed acquisition by Meta, the world’s leading consumer VR headset maker, would snuff out VR competition and put the company on track towards obtaining a VR monopoly.