Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg defended his company in court Monday as a historic antitrust trial got underway, facing accusations that Meta illegally built a monopoly in the social media space through its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp.

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The trial, brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), could have major implications for the tech giant, including the potential separation of two of its most influential platforms. The FTC argues that Meta’s purchases of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 were strategic moves to eliminate emerging competition and protect its dominance in the market.

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FTC attorney Daniel Matheson called Zuckerberg as the trial’s first witness, zeroing in on internal communications that revealed the CEO’s dissatisfaction with his company’s efforts to rival Instagram.

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“The way I read this message is that I’m not happy about how we’re executing on that project,” Zuckerberg said, referring to a message he sent expressing concern over the lack of progress in building a competing photo-sharing app.

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When Matheson asked whether that frustration stemmed from Instagram’s rapid growth, Zuckerberg responded, “That does seem to be what I’m highlighting,” noting that he routinely challenges his teams to improve.

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The tone shifted later in the day as Zuckerberg grew visibly frustrated during questioning about Instagram’s rise. Pressed on his past comments regarding the app’s accelerating success, he replied, “I don’t have the full timeline of Instagram’s development in my head. You could probably get that better from somebody else.”

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The trial also touched on internal discussions about prioritizing Facebook over Instagram following the acquisition. Matheson questioned whether there had been plans to shift focus away from Instagram and limit investment. Zuckerberg pushed back, saying he wouldn’t call it a “plan” and emphasized that Instagram was far from ignored.

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“In practice, we ended up investing a ton in it after we acquired it,” Zuckerberg said, noting his company’s commitment to developing the platform.

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In his opening statement, Matheson accused Meta of exploiting its dominant position to generate massive profits while consumer satisfaction declined. He described the acquisitions as a strategic move to “erect a moat” and secure Meta’s market power.

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At the time of acquisition, Instagram was a small, ad-free photo-sharing app with a dedicated user base. WhatsApp, acquired two years later for $22 billion, was a fast-growing messaging service.

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This landmark trial marks a major challenge to Meta’s business practices and is seen as a crucial test of the FTC’s ability to rein in Big Tech.

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Though the lawsuit was filed in 2020 during President Donald Trump’s first term, its outcome could set the tone for how future administrations handle antitrust enforcement in the tech industry.

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