As the FTC's trial to break up Meta wrapped, Meta made its last stand with expert economist Dennis Carlton. The FTC rebutted by recalling Scott Hemphill. Who came out on top? And will the FTC prevail?| Big Tech on Trial
Our recap of Meta's case-in-chief during Week 6 of trial, featuring its fact witnesses and its warm-up expert economists.| Big Tech on Trial
As the FTC closed its case, a recurring question emerged: If users "hired" Instagram (and Facebook) to connect with friends and family, was Meta failing them by de-prioritizing that feature?| Big Tech on Trial
Trial exhibit discussing Instagram's potential recommending of minors to "groomers" takes on a life of its own. A deeper dive answers some questions while raising others.| Big Tech on Trial
Last week was the deadline for third party amicus briefs. We heard from a lot of businesses mad at, and supportive of, Google.| Big Tech on Trial
The Meta antitrust trial entered Week 5 with Meta marketing head Alex Schultz on the stand again, before the FTC finally called its economist. Sparks flew.| Big Tech on Trial
Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, returned to court on Day 16 of the FTC v. Meta antitrust trial, and we heard more from Meta marketing head Alex Schultz.| Big Tech on Trial
The FTC's survey expert, Michal Malkiewicz, backs up the government's case with data. But first, current WhatsApp head Will Cathcart, and the start and end of two more exams on Day 15.| Big Tech on Trial
In Week 4 of FTC v. Meta Platforms antitrust trial, shocking statistics about Meta's failure to address known security risks, plus one more look at WhatsApp.| Big Tech on Trial
Meta's in-house consumer survey guru Curtiss Cobb defends the indefensible on Day 11 of FTC breakup trial after executives from Tumblr and TikTok testify.| Big Tech on Trial
Day 10 of FTC v. Meta Platforms took another look at the WhatsApp buy with Meta COO, Javier Olivan, and then went back to third parties with Apple.| Big Tech on Trial
As we enter the third week of trial, we're learning a lot more about the landscape of social (and not-so-social) media. We also go deep into the cloud with AWS and Microsoft Azure.| Big Tech on Trial
A flurry of expert and third-party witnesses on Days 7 and 8 of FTC v. Meta Platforms reveals details about WhatsApp's valuation and insights into TikTok, Discord, and Reddit.| Big Tech on Trial
With Instagram co-founder Kevin Systrom on the stand, the sixth day of the FTC v. Meta trial was the government's strongest yet.| Big Tech on Trial
Day 5 of the FTC trial rounded out the WhatsApp story, taking us through an admitted rumor, a timely run-in that leaked a Google meeting, and some very rich VCs.| Big Tech on Trial
Judge Amit Mehta held the first day of hearings on how to cure Google's illegal monopoly power. The government made a strong showing, while Google barely admitted it was found to have violated the law| Big Tech on Trial
Meta's relentless focus on TikTok as a competitor blows up in Day 4 of FTC v. Meta trial. That's good for the FTC.| Big Tech on Trial
Judge Leonie Brinkema ruled against the search giant for its control over the software underpinning online ad buying. Now it's on to the remedy.| Big Tech on Trial
On Day 3, cross and re-direct of Mark Zuckerberg concluded, and Sheryl Sandberg shivved the FTC with kindness.| www.bigtechontrial.com
On the 12th day of FTC v. Meta Platforms, survey king Curtiss Cobb comes back to the stand chastened, and we look at ad load with revenue head John Hegeman.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Google advertising executive Jerry Dischler was called to testify about Google's ability to raise prices in its advertising auctions.| www.bigtechontrial.com
On Day 3, DOJ continued to develop its argument that defaults made all the difference for Google.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Here's what I'll be paying attention to as the trial gets underway| www.bigtechontrial.com
Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by excluding rivals from the general search engine market in order to maintain its monopoly. What happens now?| www.bigtechontrial.com
Does user data make a better search engine? Google and the Department of Justice are in stark disagreement over an issue that could shape the outcome.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Welcome to Big Tech on Trial.| www.bigtechontrial.com
The first big antitrust trial of this century is nearing its end. Looking back on the evidence we've seen — and ahead to Judge Mehta's huge task.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 35-36: Google continued to present its defense in what might be the trial's penultimate week| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 33-34: The past engagements of Google's economic expert Mark Israel have come into focus on both direct and cross-examination| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 32: Google's defense has pointed to competitive benefits in the browser and smart phone markets — but it's unclear how much these benefits matter.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 29-30: Despite resting its case more than a week ago, DOJ continues to offer new evidence through aggressive cross-examinations.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 27-28: The States examined economics expert Jonathan Baker before Google re-started its defense with Google executive Prabhakar Raghavan| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 25-26: Testimony on familiar issues continues to dominate as the States wrap up their case| www.bigtechontrial.com
On Day 24, Google began its defense with an out-of-order witness: Google VP of Search Pandu Nayak| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 22-23: After presenting multiple days of testimony from MIT economist Michael Whinston, the DOJ said it had no more witnesses left to call.| www.bigtechontrial.com
On Day 15, an advertising agency executive explained how "purchase funnels" drive Google's power in digital advertising.| www.bigtechontrial.com
On Day 10, Apple executive Eddy Cue testified amidst increasing scrutiny of the trial's secrecy| www.bigtechontrial.com
As Week 5 of the trial comes to a close, the focus is shifting to the States' separate claim about Google's proprietary search engine marketing tool SA360.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 19: DOJ called one of Google's first employees to examine the push and pull of Google's negotiations with Apple over the years.| www.bigtechontrial.com
On Day 16, DOJ explored whether Google could illegally raise the prices of its ads.| www.bigtechontrial.com
On Day 17, we heard another account of how Google's default agreements prevented Branch Metrics from ever fully launching.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 14: Microsoft's CEO testified about Google's grip on the market and a former Google executive explained why he tried to build a rival search engine.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 12: Microsoft executive Jon Tinter testified as Judge Mehta pushed for more open court testimony.| www.bigtechontrial.com
On Day 11, we heard how Google's search engine default agreements presented an obstacle for companies of all sizes.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Here are seven ways that Judge Mehta is allowing Google to hide the Google antitrust trial.| www.bigtechontrial.com
Day 7 and 8: DuckDuckGo CEO takes the stand as controversy over trial's confidentiality continues| www.bigtechontrial.com
Both sides agree the future of the internet is at stake. They disagreed about everything else.| www.bigtechontrial.com