A recent ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has determined that Meta Platforms cannot postpone the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) renewed investigation into alleged privacy infractions by its Facebook division.
This decision comes as Meta continues its legal battle to question the FTC’s jurisdiction.
The court’s decree highlighted Meta’s inability to prove the likely success of its challenge, stating the company did not fulfill the stringent criteria necessary to secure an injunction pending an appeal.
This judgement echoes a previous decision on March 12 by the same court panel, which rejected Meta’s request to halt the FTC’s investigation, initiated last year.
Meta’s objections were based on its claim of having already settled a $5 billion fine and implemented various privacy safeguards.
Nonetheless, the FTC aims to enhance a 2020 agreement on Facebook’s privacy policies, including prohibiting the use of minors’ data for profit and extending restrictions on facial recognition technology.
The FTC has criticized Meta for deceiving parents regarding the safety of their children’s data.
In response, Meta filed a lawsuit against the FTC in November, arguing that the Commission’s dual role as both an investigator and a judge violates constitutional principles, including the right to a jury trial.
Both the FTC and Meta have yet to make public comments on the court’s latest decision.
The court’s order was a response to Meta’s challenge against a ruling by U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss on March 15, which declined to stop the FTC’s investigation.
Judge Moss emphasized the paramount public interest in examining Meta’s privacy practices.
Additionally, the FTC has filed an antitrust lawsuit accusing Meta of monopolistic behavior in the social media sphere, potentially leading to the divestiture of significant assets like Instagram and WhatsApp.
Meta has refuted these allegations, defending its market conduct.