WASHINGTON—Federal Trade Commission staff members are recommending that the agency bring an antitrust case against Facebook Inc., according to people familiar with the matter, but commissioners haven’t yet reached a decision. The five-member FTC met privately via videoconference Thursday to discuss next steps, without taking action, the people said. The FTC listed Thursday’s meeting on its public calendar but didn’t reveal the topic, saying it was discussing a nonpublic law enforcement matter. The commissioners, three Republicans and two Democrats, can’t all talk about an enforcement action as a group unless they announce a formal meeting. The Wall Street Journal reported in September that the FTC was gearing up to file a possible antitrust lawsuit against Facebook by year-end, with staffers preparing a draft complaint.

Source: Wall Street Journal October 23, 2020 01:18 UTC