FTC Seeks to Block Meta From Acquiring Within Unlimited
27 Julho 2022 - 3:42PM
Dow Jones News
By Kathryn Hardison
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to block Meta Platforms
Inc. from acquiring Within Unlimited Inc. and its virtual reality
dedicated fitness app, Supernatural.
The FTC said Wednesday that Meta, formerly Facebook, is already
a key player at each level of the virtual reality sector. It
alleges that Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg are planning to expand
Meta's virtual reality empire with the acquisition of the fitness
app, which would lessen competition in the market and violate
antitrust laws.
Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and WhatsApp, is
the largest provider of virtual reality devices, the FTC said.
The FTC voted 3-2 to authorize staff to seek a temporary
retraining order and preliminary injunction. A federal court
complaint and request for preliminary relief has been filed in the
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California to halt
the transaction.
"Instead of competing on the merits, Meta is trying to buy its
way to the top," said FTC Bureau of Competition Deputy Director
John Newman. "Meta already owns a best-selling virtual reality
fitness app, and it had the capabilities to compete even more
closely with Within's popular Supernatural app. But Meta chose to
buy market position instead of earning it on the merits. This is an
illegal acquisition, and we will pursue all appropriate
relief."
Representatives from Meta didn't immediately return requests for
comment.
Write to Kathryn Hardison at kathryn.hardison@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
July 27, 2022 14:27 ET (18:27 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2022 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Mar 2024 até Abr 2024
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)
Gráfico Histórico do Ativo
De Abr 2023 até Abr 2024