Exclusive | Meta nudged prominent Big Tech critic in plea for help ahead of landmark FTC antitrust trial: sources

Meta “nudged” a prominent Big Tech critic to help Mark Zuckerberg’s social-media giant curry favor with powerful Republicans ahead of its landmark antitrust trial as it seeks to avoid a breakup, The Post has learned.The Federal Trade Commission has accused Zuckerberg of using a “buy or bury” strategy to protect a monopoly and is in the midst of a historic bid in federal court to force Meta to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp.Zuckerberg was the first witness called to take the stand last month.In early April, just as the FTC’s trial was set to kick off, a Meta official called the Media Research Center – an influential right-leaning watchdog that has developed a reputation for calling out Big Tech censorship and political bias, multiple sources with knowledge of the call told The Post.During the phone call with MRC executive Dan Schneider, the Meta official mentioned the upcoming FTC case and touted Zuckerberg’s recent move to eliminate its fact-checking unit – whose past role in alleged censorship had been widely criticized by Republicans – in favor of a more lenient “community notes” policy.When reached by The Post, Schneider confirmed that the call had occurred.

Schneider said he interpreted the outreach as Meta “nudging me to do something,” such as amplifying Meta’s new policy, to curry favor with conservatives.“On the eve of this trial that could have severe ramifications for Meta, [the company official] was throwing a ‘hail Mary’ pass to see if one of its chief critics would run cover for them in some way,” Schneider said.“It’s not accurate to say that [the official] asked me to do something,” Schneider said.“I think it’s clearly accurate that they were hoping I was going to do something.”During the call, the Meta official suggested that the FTC could secure a more impactful deal “not at trial, but with something beforehand” – in an apparent reference to a settlement, Schneider said.Meta declined to commen...