The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has pursued Facebook, now part of Meta Platforms, over privacy violations and alleged anticompetitive practices. Its major antitrust lawsuit, filed in December 2020, accused Facebook of maintaining monopoly power through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. Former FTC Chair Lina Khan helped advance the case after taking office in 2021. However, a federal judge ruled in Meta's favor on November 18, 2025, finding that regulators had not proved the company currently held monopoly power in the relevant market. The FTC appealed in January 2026, and the case remains pending as of November 2026. Separately, consumers can report suspected Facebook scams and deceptive business practices through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
What Is the Federal Trade Commission?
The Federal Trade Commission is an independent United States government agency responsible for protecting consumers and enforcing federal competition laws.
Its responsibilities include investigating fraud, misleading advertising, privacy violations and business practices that unlawfully restrict competition.
The agency is led by commissioners appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
As of November 2026, Andrew N. Ferguson serves as FTC chairman. Lina Khan, who led the agency from June 2021 until January 2025, is no longer chair.
What Is ReportFraud.ftc.gov?
ReportFraud.ftc.gov is the FTC's official online reporting portal for consumers who encounter suspected scams, fraud or deceptive business practices.
Reports can involve fraudulent online sellers, impersonation scams, suspicious advertising, investment fraud and other misleading commercial activities.
People who encounter scams involving Facebook or Instagram may submit a report when the conduct falls within the FTC's consumer protection responsibilities.
The FTC uses these reports to identify patterns, investigate potential violations and support law enforcement actions.
However, the agency does not resolve individual complaints or guarantee refunds to consumers who submit reports.
How to Report Facebook Fraud to the FTC
Consumers who believe they have encountered a scam involving Facebook can report the incident through the official FTC portal.
- Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Select the category that best describes the suspected fraud.
- Explain what happened, including relevant dates and transaction details.
- Identify the business, seller or individual involved, if known.
- Provide information about any payments or financial losses.
- Enter contact information if you wish to provide it.
- Submit the report and retain the confirmation number.
Consumers should preserve receipts, messages, transaction records and screenshots that may help document the incident.
If money has been stolen, they should also contact their bank or payment provider promptly to determine whether a payment dispute or recovery option is available.
For hacked accounts or impersonation, reporting the problem directly to Facebook or Instagram may also be necessary.
Why Did the FTC Sue Facebook?
On December 9, 2020, the FTC filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging that Facebook had illegally maintained monopoly power in personal social networking services.
The complaint focused primarily on three areas:
- Facebook's acquisition of Instagram in 2012.
- Its acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014.
- Restrictions affecting third-party developers that could compete with Facebook.
According to the FTC, Facebook acquired emerging competitors to protect its market position rather than competing with them on the merits.
The agency sought remedies that could have included restructuring the company's businesses.
Meta denied the allegations, arguing that its services competed with a broad range of social media and digital entertainment platforms.
What Was Lina Khan's Role in the Facebook Antitrust Case?
Lina Khan became FTC chair on June 15, 2021, several months after the original Facebook lawsuit had been filed.
Before joining the agency, she had worked on competition policy and congressional investigations involving major technology companies.
In June 2021, US District Judge James E. Boasberg dismissed the FTC's original complaint because its allegations of monopoly power were insufficiently supported.
The court permitted the agency to submit an amended complaint.
Under Khan's leadership, the FTC authorized a revised filing in August 2021, providing additional arguments about Facebook's market position and alleged exclusionary conduct.
The amended complaint survived another dismissal attempt in January 2022 and eventually proceeded to trial.
Why Did Facebook Challenge Lina Khan's Participation?
On July 14, 2021, Facebook petitioned the FTC to remove Khan from decisions involving the antitrust case.
The company argued that her earlier academic writings and public statements suggested she had already reached conclusions about Facebook's market conduct.
Facebook claimed her involvement created concerns about impartiality.
The FTC rejected the petition on procedural grounds.
In January 2022, Judge Boasberg also rejected Facebook's argument that Khan's participation in authorizing the amended complaint violated legal standards governing impartiality.
The court distinguished the FTC's decision to initiate enforcement proceedings from a judge's responsibility to decide a case impartially.
Khan's involvement therefore did not invalidate the amended lawsuit.
FTC's $5 Billion Facebook Privacy Settlement in 2019
Before the antitrust lawsuit, Facebook faced a separate FTC investigation concerning consumer privacy.
On July 24, 2019, the FTC announced a $5 billion settlement over allegations that Facebook violated an earlier privacy order.
The agency alleged that Facebook misled users about their control over personal information and failed to provide adequate oversight of certain third-party applications.
The settlement imposed a substantial financial penalty and additional privacy compliance requirements.
It was announced while Joe Simons chaired the FTC, before Khan joined the commission.
The $5 billion privacy settlement and the later antitrust lawsuit were separate enforcement matters involving different legal allegations.
How Was Cambridge Analytica Connected to the FTC Investigation?
The Cambridge Analytica controversy increased public scrutiny of Facebook's handling of personal information.
The political consulting company obtained data associated with millions of Facebook users through an application developed by Aleksandr Kogan.
The FTC alleged that the data collection involved deceptive representations about how personal information would be obtained and used.
In 2019, the agency pursued actions involving Cambridge Analytica, Kogan and former executive Alexander Nix.
Those proceedings were distinct from the antitrust allegations concerning Facebook's acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.
Meta Wins the FTC Antitrust Trial in November 2025
The FTC's antitrust case proceeded to trial in April 2025.
On November 18, 2025, Judge James Boasberg ruled in favor of Meta in the US District Court for the District of Columbia.
The court concluded that the FTC had not established that Meta continued to possess monopoly power in the relevant market.
A central issue was how competition in social media had changed since the original lawsuit.
The judge found that TikTok and YouTube exerted meaningful competitive pressure on Facebook and Instagram.
According to the ruling, the FTC's proposed market definition did not sufficiently account for these competitors.
The decision did not establish that Meta's historical acquisitions were necessarily beneficial or that every aspect of its business conduct was lawful.
Rather, the court found that the FTC had failed to prove the monopoly power necessary for its particular antitrust claim.
Why Did the FTC Appeal the Meta Ruling in 2026?
In January 2026, the FTC challenged the district court's decision by filing an appeal with the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
The agency maintained that Meta had protected its market position by acquiring important competitive threats, particularly Instagram and WhatsApp.
The appellate proceeding was assigned case number 26-5028.
The court established a briefing schedule extending into October 2026, with submissions from the parties and outside organizations addressing the legal issues.
As of November 11, 2026, the latest public records reviewed do not establish a final appellate judgment.
Meta's district court victory therefore remains subject to appellate review.
FTC vs. Facebook and Meta: Key Events
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| July 24, 2019 | FTC announces a $5 billion Facebook privacy settlement. |
| December 9, 2020 | FTC files its original Facebook antitrust lawsuit. |
| June 15, 2021 | Lina Khan becomes FTC chair. |
| June 2021 | The court dismisses the original antitrust complaint. |
| August 19, 2021 | FTC files an amended complaint. |
| January 2022 | The amended complaint survives Meta's dismissal challenge. |
| April 2025 | The antitrust trial begins. |
| November 18, 2025 | Judge Boasberg rules in Meta's favor. |
| January 2026 | FTC appeals the ruling. |
| November 2026 | The appeal remains pending in the latest verified records. |
Can You File an FTC Complaint Against Facebook or Meta?
Yes, consumers can report suspected fraud or deceptive business practices connected to Facebook, Instagram or Meta-related transactions.
For example, someone who encounters a fraudulent seller advertising on Facebook may report the suspected scam through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
However, ordinary account problems, content moderation disputes or difficulty accessing Facebook do not automatically constitute FTC enforcement matters.
The portal is also not a mechanism for personally joining the federal government's antitrust lawsuit against Meta.
Consumers seeking refunds or account assistance should consider contacting the business, payment provider or relevant platform in addition to submitting any appropriate fraud report.
What Happens After You Submit an FTC Report?
After submitting a report, consumers receive a confirmation number and information about potential next steps.
The FTC adds reports to its Consumer Sentinel Network, which supports investigations by authorized law enforcement agencies.
Reports can help identify companies or individuals associated with repeated complaints and possible unlawful practices.
However, the FTC generally does not provide individual case updates or directly resolve every complaint.
A submitted report should therefore be viewed as a contribution to consumer protection enforcement rather than a guaranteed method of recovering money.
What Is the Latest Status of the FTC's Meta Lawsuit?
As of November 2026, the FTC's antitrust case against Meta remains in appellate proceedings.
The district court ruled for Meta in November 2025, but the FTC filed an appeal in January 2026.
The appellate case, numbered 26-5028, remains listed as pending in the public sources reviewed.
Until a final appellate decision is issued, it would be inaccurate to describe the litigation as conclusively resolved in either party's favor.
Conclusion
The Federal Trade Commission's actions involving Facebook and Meta cover separate questions of consumer protection, privacy and competition.
ReportFraud.ftc.gov allows consumers to report suspected scams and deceptive practices, while the FTC's antitrust lawsuit addresses allegations that Meta unlawfully maintained market dominance through acquisitions and restrictive conduct.
Lina Khan played a prominent role in advancing the amended antitrust complaint, although the original case began before her appointment.
Meta won the trial in November 2025 when the court found that the FTC had failed to prove current monopoly power. The FTC appealed in January 2026, and the case remained pending as of November 11, 2026.
Understanding these distinctions is essential when evaluating the FTC's authority, Meta's legal challenges and the reporting options available to consumers.