Meta reportedly tried to settle its ongoing antitrust lawsuit with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by offering $1 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The report says Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg personally called FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson to offer an initial settlement of $450 million, which was later increased to $1 billion.
However, the FTC reportedly demanded a much higher amount—starting at $18 billion along with a consent decree and later raising its counteroffer to $30 billion. The details highlight the deep divide between the two sides over how to resolve the case.
Interestingly, the report also mentions that former President Donald Trump seemed more open to the idea of a settlement and even asked questions about how a deal might work.
The antitrust lawsuit is part of the FTC’s ongoing effort to rein in the power of big tech companies like Meta, which owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
