Facebook probe in final stages as FTC, US states prepare lawsuits

The legal action is expected to focus on Facebook's alleged violations of antitrust law to protect its gigantic market share in social media. — Reuters

WASHINGTON DC: The US Federal Trade Commission and a bipartisan group of dozens of state attorneys general are in the final stages of filing one or more major antitrust complaints against Facebook Inc in early December, according to four sources familiar with the situation.

FTC staff undertaking a probe of the company has recommended to commissioners that they sue the social media company in federal court, which would allow the group of states, led by New York, to join the lawsuit, according to one source.