DEVELOPING: Judge Rules Against Antitrust Demands, Meta Keeps WhatsApp, Instagram Intact

Breaking News: Judge Rules Against Antitrust Demands, Meta Keeps WhatsApp, Instagram Intact A federal judge has ruled in favor of Meta, handing the social media giant a major victory in an antitrust trial. On Tuesday, the judge rejected the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) claims that Meta stifled competition and bolstered a monopoly by buying upstart rivals. Meta will not be required to spin off WhatsApp and Instagram, as the FTC had demanded. The ruling comes after a five-year investigation and lawsuit filed by the FTC, which alleged anti-competitive behavior by Meta. The FTC had argued that Meta's acquisition of Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 was part of a "buy or bury" strategy to eliminate competitors and protect its social networking monopoly. However, the judge has rejected these claims. The immediate impact of the ruling is that Meta will be allowed to continue operating its popular social media platforms without significant changes. The company's stock price has surged in response to the news. The FTC has not yet commented on its plans for an appeal. This is a developing story, and we will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. This is a developing story. Please check back for further updates.