Antitrust leaders demand regulators pursue Facebook

Congressional leaders on antitrust are urging the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to pursue its monopolization case against Facebook.

In a letter Friday, Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Reps. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) and Ken Buck (R-Colo.) urged the regulatory agency’s chief Lina Khan to pursue enforcement action against the social media giant despite an unfavorable court ruling earlier this week.

U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg sent the FTC’s case back to the agency Monday, ruling that it had provided insufficient evidence for the claim that Facebook controls over 60 percent of the personal social networking market.

The FTC was given 30 days to refile its complaint. The agency also has the option to file charges against Facebook through its in-house court.

The lawmakers, who are the chairs and ranking members of the Senate and House subcommittees dedicated to antitrust, called on the FTC to “consider all available options under the law for ensuring that the Commission’s claims receive a full and fair hearing before the court.”