Long-standing friction between Big Tech and the media resurfaced during Meta’s antitrust trial with the Federal Trade Commission this week. In a heated courtroom exchange, Meta’s legal team used critical commentary from prominent tech journalists to cast doubt on the FTC’s case.
Meta’s lead attorney, Mark Hansen, questioned the credibility of FTC expert Scott Hemphill by referencing a 2019 antitrust pitch Hemphill co-authored with Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and former White House advisor Tim Wu.
The presentation cited public statements from reporters Kara Swisher and Om Malik as evidence of Meta’s dominance and aggressive acquisitions.
Hansen dismissed Malik as a ‘failed blogger’ with personal bias and accused Swisher of similar hostility, projecting a headline where she described Mark Zuckerberg as a ‘small little creature with a shriveled soul.’
He also attempted to discredit a cited New York Post article by invoking the tabloid’s notorious ‘Headless Body in Topless Bar’ cover.
These moments highlight Meta’s growing resentment toward the press, which has intensified alongside rising criticism of its business practices. Once seen as scrappy disruptors, Facebook and other tech giants now face regular scrutiny—and appear eager to push back.
Swisher and Malik have both openly criticized Meta in the past. Swisher famously challenged Zuckerberg over content moderation and political speech, while Malik has questioned the company’s global expansion strategies.
Their inclusion in a legal document presented in court underscores how media commentary is influencing regulatory narratives. Meta has previously blamed critical press for damaging user sentiment in the wake of scandals like Cambridge Analytica.
The FTC argues that consistent engagement levels despite bad press prove Meta’s monopoly power—users feel they have no real alternatives to Facebook and Instagram. As the trial continues, so too does Meta’s public battle—not just with regulators, but with the journalists documenting its rise and reckoning.
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