Technologies

Facebook’s request to dismiss FTC’s antitrust lawsuit has been denied

A federal judge rules that the Federal Trade Commission’s revised complaint can move forward.

A federal judge on Tuesday rejected Facebook’s request to dismiss a revised antitrust complaint filed by the US Federal Trade Commission.

The amended lawsuit, which the FTC filed in August, accuses the tech company of unlawfully maintaining its dominance in social networking by acquiring or eliminating companies it sees as competitive threats. Facebook, which in October rebranded itself to Meta, owns popular photo service Instagram and messaging app WhatsApp.

The decision marks a legal setback for Facebook, although US District Judge James Boasberg also noted that the FTC «may face a tall task down the road in proving its allegations.» The judge also narrowed the scope of the case by not allowing the agency to move forward with accusations that Facebook’s interoperability policies for developers helped the social media giant maintain its dominance. Facebook got rid of those policies in 2018, he said.

Last year, Boasberg dismissed an antitrust complaint filed by the FTC in 2020, saying the agency hadn’t provided enough evidence that Facebook has monopoly power in personal social networking. What constitutes a social network is «hardly crystal clear,» the judge said, noting that Facebook’s services are free to consumers. The FTC then revised the lawsuit and included more data and evidence to support its allegations that Facebook is a monopolist that abused its market power to harm its rivals. Facebook’s purchase of Instagram and WhatsApp lead to poorer services with decreased privacy and data protection along with fewer consumer choices, the FTC alleged.

In a 48-page opinion filed Tuesday, Boasberg said the FTC had cleared the bar for the case to move forward, saying the agency has «now alleged enough facts» to establish that Facebook possesses monopoly power it’s held onto by snapping up its rivals.

In the amended complaint, the FTC cites data from Comscore that shows the number of monthly active users Facebook and Instagram have in the US and the amount of time they spend on the app daily. The FTC also defined personal social networking, noting that the services «enable and are used by people to maintain personal relationships and share experiences with friends, family, and other personal connections in a shared social space.» Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, YouTube, Spotify, Netflix and Hulu are different from personal social networks for various reasons, the agency said.

Facebook questioned the accuracy of the data, but the judge said it would be «improper» to dismiss the revised complaint because it doesn’t include «perfect data (which may not exist)» about the amount of time Facebook and Instagram users spend interacting with friends and family as opposed to watching content such as music videos.

The court also rejected Facebook’s argument that FTC Chairwoman Lina Khan should have recused herself from participating in the commission’s vote to refile the lawsuit. The FTC filed its original complaint in December 2020, before Khan joined the commission in June.

«Although the Court recognizes the importance of her vote, it is an exaggeration to treat Kahn as the sole instigator of the current case,» Boasberg said in the opinion.

A spokesperson for Meta, formerly known as Facebook, said «the evidence will reveal the fundamental weakness of the claims»
made by the FTC. «Our investments in Instagram and WhatsApp transformed them into what they are today. They have been good for competition, and good for the people and businesses that choose to use our products,» the spokesperson said.

Holly Vedova, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition said the «FTC staff presented a strong amended complaint, and we look forward to trial.»

Technologies

Adorn Your Wrist With a 45mm Pixel Watch 3 for Just $200 This Black Friday

Both Amazon and Walmart are selling Google’s Pixel Watch 3 for just $200, but for how long?

There are tons of reasons to pick up a new smartwatch, not the least of which is monitoring your health and tracking your fitness goals. If you’re in the Android world, there are plenty of options to choose from right now. The Pixel Watch 3 is a solid choice, and it was our favorite Android smartwatch until the new Pixel Watch 4 took its place in the lineup. But the Watch 3 still boasts some great features that can help you stay on top of your wellness goals into the new year as well. And both Amazon and Walmart are running Black Friday deals that make it significantly cheaper than the Pixel Watch 4.

Both retailers are selling the bigger 45mm model with a solid $100 discount, so you can pick one up for just $200. That’s $100 less than the Pixel Watch 4’s Black Friday price. Again, this offer is available at both Walmart and Amazon, so take your pick as to where you place your order. Just do it soon because we don’t know how long these Black Friday deals will last.

The impressive watch was previously our top Android smartwatch because of its attractive design, large screen and speedy charging. It no longer requires a Fitbit Premium membership to access your readiness score, and it has plenty of great tools for runners. However, although the watch comes with Google Assistant, it doesn’t include Gemini, Google’s AI.

Lisa Eadicicco, a former senior editor, said in her CNET review, «The Pixel Watch 3’s upgrades are enough to keep it as my top pick for a general-purpose Android smartwatch. If you’re anything like me and consider yourself a casual runner in need of a general-purpose Android watch that’s sleek and comfortable, the Pixel Watch 3 won’t disappoint.»

If this isn’t the Pixel Watch for you, take a look at our full roundup on the best Pixel Watch deals going on right now.

SMARTWATCH DEALS OF THE WEEK

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band):

$339 (save $60)
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 (40mm, Bluetooth, Graphite Band):

$280 (save $70)
Google Pixel Watch 4 (41mm, Wi-Fi, Matte Black):

$300 (save $50)
Garmin Venu Sq 2 GPS Smartwatch (Shadow Gray):

$150 (save $100)
CMF Watch 2 Pro Smartwatch (Blue):

$49 (save $30)

Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article.

Why this deal matters

Google Watches don’t go on sale often. These rare discounts on the Pixel Watch 3 are thanks to the release of the Pixel Watch 4 earlier this year. This deal drops the 45mm model to just $200 — a new all-time low, and a strong value for one of the most versatile Android smartwatches available.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

Join Our Daily Deals Text Group!

Get hand-picked deals from CNET shopping experts straight to your phone.

By signing up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to receive recurring marketing messages at the phone number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Msg & data rates may apply. View our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Technologies

I Regularly Buy Belkin Gear at Full Price, but You Can Save Up to 63% for Black Friday

Belkin makes excellent mobile accessories, from cables to wireless charging stands. Snag some of our favorites for less this Black Friday.

You can never have too many charging options, especially when you can stock up during an epic sale. We’re just hours away from Black Friday, and Belkin is offering up to 65% off its mobile accessories at Amazon. Belkin regularly shows up in our best lists, including our roundup of top wireless chargers.

The brand makes excellent gear at reasonable prices, and those prices just got even lower. Whether you’re looking for a charging station for your nightstand or a sleek power bank for travel days, there’s a Belkin Black Friday deal for you.

The Belkin MagSafe three-in-one wireless charging stand landed on our list of best wireless chargers for its impressive fast-charging performance. Our expert, David Carnoy, praised the stand’s convenient design and its ability to fast charge Apple’s entire ecosystem. That means you’ll be able to charge your iPhone, Apple Watch and any AirPods with a wireless charging case — all at once. Carnoy’s only complaint was the price; however, it’s substantially discounted for Black Friday. Belkin’s MagSafe three-in-one wireless charging stand is now just $78 — 35% off the usual $120 price.

If you spend a lot of time in your car, be it a long commute or regular road trips, a good car mount is a must. The Belkin MagSafe car mount is another one of our favorite accessories. The magnets provide a strong, secure hold for your phone, and you can rotate it for easy access. The mount plus charger is currently available for $55, down from $80.

Speaking of road trips, if you’re traveling this holiday season, you definitely need a portable power bank. Belkin has a 10,000 mAh power bank with a built-in USB-C power delivery cable for $15. This 20-watt charger typically retails for $40, so you’re saving 63%. There are four colors, but this price only applies to the black model. Other colors are available for $30.

If you’ve got a Nintendo Switch 2 or you’re gifting it to a loved one, you’ll love Belkin’s Switch 2 travel case. It’s lightweight with a hard shell and has storage pockets for up to 12 game cards. Snag one right now for $22. Just make sure you click the on-page coupon to get the full discount.

Belkin also has huge discounts on headphones and earbuds if those are on your gift list this year.

Why this deal matters

Phone accessories, including chargers and earbuds, can wear quickly and are easy to lose. Third-party retailers like Belkin offer a solid selection of mobile accessories for all budgets. This Black Friday deal makes now an excellent time to shop with up to 63% off top-rated charging stations, car mounts and even headphones.