Survey Results: Reasons for Favoring Facebook over the FTC

Reasons for Favoring Facebook over the FTC

In our antitrust survey, we presented participants with a summary of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) case against Facebook. This lawsuit centers on allegations of unfair competition, specifically surrounding Facebook’s acquisitions of WhatsApp and Instagram. We asked survey respondents questions about the strength of the FTC’s case, who they’d favor, and why they would favor that party. Below are some participants’ reasons for favoring Facebook over the FTC.

The FTC Approved the Instagram & WhatsApp Acquisitions

The fact that Facebook’s acquisitions were assessed by the FTC in previous years led many participants to think that the acquisitions did not violate laws because if they did, the FTC would not have approved them.

Facebook Received FTC Approval

"Very sadly, I have to agree w/ Facebook here in that the FTC cleared both transactions in 2012 & 2014. There was nothing apparently wrong with it then. I hate to say that b/c I greatly dislike Facebook & all it does."

Facebook Received FTC Approval

"It is a little sketchy to me that the transactions to buy Whatsapp and Instagram were approved and then later down the road seen as a threat. The argument doesn't hold a strong point since Facebook has proof that the transactions were cleared."

Facebook Received FTC Approval

"I'm not saying I disagree with the fact that FB has become a monopoly, but unfortunately, this is what's happened because the FTC seems to have considered the WhatsApp and Instagram purchases in isolated instances rather than their collective impact on FB's status."

Facebook Received FTC Approval

"Whatever their reasons for the purchases, the FTC cleared them to take place and it's a done deal."

Facebook Received FTC Approval

"Facebook did nothing wrong. If the government made a bad decision it is not the fault of Facebook, so why should Facebook have to pay for the government’s potential mistakes?"

The FTC Can't Just Change Its Mind About Approving the Purchases It Has Already Approved.

Other participants felt that even if Facebook was violating antitrust laws, the FTC had an opportunity to stop them. Instead the FTC decided to approve Facebook’s purchases of Whatsapp and Instagram.

The FTC Can't Change Its Mind Now

"I don't think the FTC should be able to go back and reverse rulings from years before."

The FTC Can't Change Its Mind Now

"Facebook went through the process of getting the purchases approved. I don't think it's right for the government to change its mind."

The FTC Can't Change Its Mind Now

"FTC now comes back and says, 'Oops! We got it wrong.'"

The FTC Can't Change Its Mind Now

"The FTC already allowed the sale to go through. They should have stopped it then."

The FTC Can't Change Its Mind Now

"The FTC originally didn't have a problem with it."

Facebook Made Smart Business Decisions

Many of the participants approved of Facebook’s actions because they were part of a winning business strategy. Their reasons for favoring Facebook over the FTC were linked to their opinion that Facebook did nothing wrong.