To: Federal Trade Commission, The United States House of Representatives, and The United States Senate
Tell the FTC to stop Facebook from buying up more companies until they’ve conducted a thorough in...
Facebook and Google control nearly 75% of the $73 billion market in digital advertising. Using this dominance over the market of social media users, Facebook perpetuates a network advantage that functionally prevents competing services from getting off the ground.
Through their rapid acquisition of the majority of the digital market, it is clear that companies can no longer meaningfully compete against Facebook. We call on the FTC to stop all Facebook acquisitions until a thorough review of the negative implications of Facebook’s digital dominance is conducted.
Through their rapid acquisition of the majority of the digital market, it is clear that companies can no longer meaningfully compete against Facebook. We call on the FTC to stop all Facebook acquisitions until a thorough review of the negative implications of Facebook’s digital dominance is conducted.
Why is this important?
The FTC’s role is to promote and safeguard competition, and the actions it has allowed by Facebook in recent history has clearly failed that obligation. They have broad legal authority to look into companies using their massive networks to stifle competition, and Facebook clearly fits that description.
When Intragram presented a viable competitor to Facebook’s social media presence, they paid $1 billion to acquire them. When WhatsApp began competing against Facebook’s Messenger platform, Facebook spent $19 billion to stamp down on their potential competition.
Facebook even developed a program, called Onavo, that uses user data to detect potentially competing services that Facebook users commonly utilize. Outside of the clear privacy concerns, this makes obvious to everyone that Facebook is using their social network to actively copy and undermine any fast-growing competitors.
Sign this petition to stand up against using a massive market share to crush competitors, and for a fair and open dialogue about protecting our democracy.
When Intragram presented a viable competitor to Facebook’s social media presence, they paid $1 billion to acquire them. When WhatsApp began competing against Facebook’s Messenger platform, Facebook spent $19 billion to stamp down on their potential competition.
Facebook even developed a program, called Onavo, that uses user data to detect potentially competing services that Facebook users commonly utilize. Outside of the clear privacy concerns, this makes obvious to everyone that Facebook is using their social network to actively copy and undermine any fast-growing competitors.
Sign this petition to stand up against using a massive market share to crush competitors, and for a fair and open dialogue about protecting our democracy.