Facebook may decide to cancel the integration of its messaging apps

Social network giant Facebook is planning to integrate its communication tools such as Facebook Messager, Instagram, and WhatsApp applications. Integration is not a merger of these applications, but a combination of communication functions such as private messaging into the infrastructure, so that users of different applications can communicate with each other on various platforms. For example, Facebook users can send messages directly to Instagram users or send messages through WhatsApp. However, the latest news obtained by the Wall Street Journal shows that Facebook has decided to discontinue the integration of the basic communication architecture, etc., due to fear of antitrust investigations.

The news pointed out that Facebook’s application market share of these applications is very high, if the integration of communication modules to open the communication between platforms, etc. may exacerbate market monopoly. The US Federal Trade Commission, which has always been waiting for Facebook, is considering imposing a ban on Facebook, and may also launch antitrust investigations against Facebook. It is also because of Facebook’s consideration that it is better not to integrate these basic communication facilities, otherwise, the Federal Trade Commission may have an excuse for investigation. Facebook itself has upset many US regulators because of privacy-related issues, so Facebook’s decision to terminate the integration plan may be the right decision.

Regulators such as the US Federal Trade Commission have launched investigations into multiple technology companies in recent years, such as Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Google. Facebook shares also fell 4% after Wall Street issued the report, but neither Facebook nor the US Federal Trade Commission has issued a statement.