As for Meta, the renewed fight comes at a time when most tech companies are cracking down not only on social platforms to avoid any potential retaliation from Trump. After defeating the FTC last fall, Meta’s chief legal officer, Jennifer Newsted, did not distrust the FTC, but celebrated the decision quietly, acknowledging that “Meta faces stiff competition.” In the same breath, Newsted also wanted to take the opportunity to remind the Trump administration that META was a friend.
“Our products benefit people and businesses and exemplify American innovation and economic growth,” Newsted said. “We look forward to continuing to partner with the administration and invest in America.”
Similarly, this week, Meta offered a fairly neutral response to the FTC’s announcement. Asked for comment on the FTC’s decision to appeal, a Meta spokesperson simply told Ars that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who sided with Meta, got it right the first time, then repeated one of Trump’s favorite sayings to tech companies.
“The district court’s decision to reject the FTC’s arguments is correct and recognizes the intense competition we face,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We will remain focused on innovation and investment in the United States.”
FTC blames judge for damages
Political tensions remain at the heart of the case, perhaps reaching a peak since the Boasberg decision.
In November, Simonson criticized Boasberg, telling CNBC that “the deck was always stacked against us with Judge Boasberg, who is currently facing articles of impeachment.”
Pressure to impeach Boasberg came from Republican Congressman Brandon Gill, who charged that the judge was abusing his power to censor conservatives, but no action has been taken since the proposed resolution was presented to a House committee that month. Republicans, including Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi, have complained that Boasberg is a rogue partisan judge, but Boasberg has withstood their attacks by continuing to adjudicate cases so far. Trump’s social criticisms against Truth Judge required a lengthy fact-checking piece from PBS.
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