Meta Fails to Fend Off Social Networking Services Monopoly Claim

A federal judge denied Meta Platforms Inc.‘s motion to dismiss claims that the tech giant monopolized the market for personal social networking services in the US and used its power to exclude a rival startup.

The Monday ruling means social media photo-video startup Phhhoto Inc.'s monopolization claims will proceed to discovery on three of its six alleged antitrust injuries, including Meta’s termination of Phhhoto’s access to Instagram’s “Find Friends” API and Meta’s suppression of Phhhoto on Facebook and Instagram feeds.

Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York also said that ...