Facebook asks U.S. court for old FTC merger documents in antitrust dispute


 Facebook has asked a U.S. court for eight documents prepared by the FTC. The documents are part of its review of the company's purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC is asking the court to quash the two deals. Facebook bought Instagram for $1 billion in 2012 and WhatsApp for $19 billion in 2014.


The FTC sued Metas Facebook in 2020 during the Trump administration, accusing the company of unlawful conduct. Facebook is battling the lawsuit and wants the material to be part of that fight. The company argued that the FTC turned over the documents to the House Judiciary Committee as it probes tech giants.


The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the filing. The requested documents include memos written for commissioners by the FTC’s Bureau of Competition and Economics on whether to allow the Instagram deal to pass. Meta also asked Competition Bureau staff to provide clarification about the WhatsApp transaction.


The requested documents include memos written for commissioners by the FTC’s Bureau of Competition and Economics on whether to allow the Instagram deal to pass. Meta also asked Competition Bureau staff to provide clarification about the WhatsApp transaction. The FTC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the filing.


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