South African Antitrust Authorities Take Action Against Meta

## Meta Platforms Faces Legal Scrutiny in South Africa

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, is under investigation by South Africa’s competition authority for allegedly misusing its market power.

According to a statement from South Africa’s Competition Commission, reported by India’s Economic Times, Meta is accused of “abusing its dominance through exclusionary practices aimed at hindering competitors or potential entrants from participating and expanding within the market.”

### Allegations Against Meta

A specific example cited involves Meta’s decision to remove the citizen engagement service, GovChat, along with its #LetsTalk subsidiary from the WhatsApp Business API. The commission asserts that Meta has “imposed and/or selectively enforced exclusionary terms and conditions governing access” to the API, which includes imposing “restrictions on data usage.”

### Meta’s Response

In response to these allegations, WhatsApp defended itself by stating that GovChat had failed to adhere to its terms of service. The company claimed, “GovChat has consistently refused to comply with our policies, which are intended to safeguard citizens and their information, choosing instead to prioritize its commercial interests.”

### Global Antitrust Actions

Globally, Meta has faced a series of antitrust actions concerning its market dominance. This scrutiny has coincided with a remarkable decline in the company’s market value, which has dropped by approximately $250 billion, as competing social media platforms like TikTok continue to gain popularity.