The Federal Trade Commission, on Thursday, filed a revised version of their complaint against Facebook, accusing the social media giant of abusing its market power and illegally crushing the competition. This was the second series of suits by the federal body, the first one being dismissed in June. 

The suit, like the one in June, argues that Facebook’s acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp were made to create a moat around its monopoly in social networking, the New York Times reported, adding that the updated suit is nearly twice as long. 

Also read: As COVID-hit economy recovers, US sees jobless claims plummet

“Facebook lacked the business acumen and technical talent to survive the transition to mobile. After failing to compete with new innovators, Facebook illegally bought or buried them when their popularity became an existential threat.” the acting director of the bureau of competition at the agency, Holly Vedova, said, as per the New York Times. 

“We are reviewing the FTC’s amended complaint and will have more to say soon,” Facebook responded on Twitter. 

Also read: US Capitol Police probing a bomb threat near the Library of Congress

In June, US District Judge James Boasberg had ruled that the suits were legally insufficient and didn’t provide enough evidence to prove that Facebook was a monopoly.

“No one who hears the title of the 2010 film ‘The Social Network’ wonders which company it is about. Yet, whatever it may mean to the public, ‘monopoly power’ is a term of art under federal law with a precise economic meaning,”  Judge Boasberg wrote. He further asked the FTC to back its claim that Facebook controlled 60% of the market for personal social networking and that it blocked competition.

  Also read: FDA issues warning to pet food company after 130 pet poisoning links

In December last year, the FTC and 48 states and districts sued Facebook for abusing its market dominance in social networking to crush smaller competitors. The federal body said that the social media platform purchased smaller up-and-coming rivals like Instagram in 2012 and WhatsApp in 2014 to eliminate competition. 

Facebook has until October 4 to respond to the FTC’s amended complaint.