The verbal defense meeting of the investigation opened by the Competition Board in Turkey regarding the controversial update policy of WhatsApp, the instant messaging platform operating under Facebook’s umbrella organization Meta, which was announced at the beginning of 2021 but stepped back from implementing it due to the reactions received, was held today.
Meta Platforms Inc. (former title Facebook Inc.), Meta Platforms Ireland Limited (formerly Facebook Ireland Limited), WhatsApp LLC and the legal representative of Facebook and Instagram in Turkey, Madoka Turkey Bilişim Hizmetleri Ltd. Sti. Facebook’s defense was received in the investigation conducted to determine whether they violated Article 6 of the Law No. 4054.
“WE HAVE WRONG”
Meta’s representative, who took the floor at the oral defense meeting, which was broadcast online and could be attended by anyone who wishes, after the Chairman of the Competition Board and the investigative committee announced their views on the investigation, demanded that the oral defense meeting be held as a closed session.
Answering the questions of the Chairman of the Board and the investigative team about data sharing between WhatsApp and Facebook group companies before the closed session, Meta’s spokesperson said, “The WhatsApp update was announced to the public in January 2021, but its purpose and effect were misunderstood. The update difference would be implemented in different countries. It was not an application aimed solely at Turkey or prioritized only by Turkey,” he said.
“WE WANT A CLOSED SESSION”
Before we share information about Meta’s market share, R&D expenditures and investments, we want to go to a closed session,” said Meta’s spokesperson in oral defense, saying:
“The update itself was not anticompetitive. We see this already in the investigation report. This update would be to the benefit of the user. We have taken into account all the feedbacks of the Competition Authority throughout the whole process. In line with the precautionary decision of the Competition, the update has not been implemented anyway.”
“WAS THIS A UNIlateral IMPLEMENTATION?”
“The use of Instagram and WhatsApp is very high, especially in Turkey. Can we call this unilateral agreement sent to users an imposition? Was it because of market power that these updates were imposed?” Facebook and Meta spokespersons gave the following answer to the question:
“Actually, there has been a significant decrease in the market share of Meta services in the last 5 years. Therefore, we see that our market shares are not suitable for such an imposition. We would like to answer this question in more detail in closed session.”
In line with Meta’s request, the oral defense meeting, whose live broadcast was terminated, was held as a closed session.