Meta’s Shady Deals: Lawsuit Reveals Facebook Shared User DMs with Netflix and Abandoned Streaming Service Ambitions

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Lawsuit alleges Facebook allowed Netflix access to user messages, intended to launch its streaming platform

Meta, notorious for its questionable handling of customer data and privacy, could be in hot water. Recent legal documents in an ongoing case imply that Meta might have revealed its users' confidential data and direct messages to Netflix.

A lawsuit has unveiled what could be the most significant violation of public trust by Meta, under the leadership of Mark Zuckerberg. It was shown that Facebook allowed Netflix access to users' private messages to aid in improving their content programming.

Surprisingly, court papers released in a continuing antitrust case against Meta, previously identified as Facebook, have laid bare the complex link between the social media titan and streaming powerhouse Netflix.

The papers hint that Meta's choice to cease production of original series on its platform, including the prominent Jada Pinkett Smith's Red Table Talk, could have been swayed by its tie-up with Netflix, a significant advertiser on its platform, according to reports from Gizmodo and Ars Technica.

Meta's broadcasting venture, which was once seen as a possible competitor to big players such as YouTube and Netflix, now seems to be non-operational. In April last year, Meta declared that it will no longer support original programming on Facebook Watch, essentially putting an end to its video streaming aspirations. This decision was made during a period of budget reductions at Meta, which also involved job cuts.

Recent submissions in the antitrust case against Meta imply a more profound reason for the downfall of its streaming project. The paperwork hints that Meta scaled back its streaming dream to satisfy Netflix, a major advertiser on its platform. A letter submitted in the lawsuit demands documents from Netflix's founder and ex-CEO, Reed Hastings, relevant to the case, suggesting a tight partnership between the two firms.

The legal action, initially brought about by Meta users, alleges that the tech behemoth is engaged in monopolistic behaviors that harm social media rivals and customers. The original grievance referred to covert deals between Meta and Netflix, but the disclosed papers provide more insight into the depth of their partnership.

The documents reveal that Netflix's significant advertising investments on Facebook helped build a robust relationship. Hastings is reported to have played a crucial part in discussions intended to suppress competition in the streaming video industry.

Doubts have emerged regarding Meta's rationale in letting Netflix sway a crucial corporate choice. The papers imply a profitable alliance between the two firms, where Meta purportedly provided Netflix with entry to users' confidential messages — an allegation that Meta has yet to openly respond to.

Meta's aspirations to dominate the streaming industry, represented by Facebook Watch, fell short of reaching the popularity levels of platforms like Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. Even though they initially tried to create unique content and obtained broadcasting rights for sports events like MLB games, Facebook Watch couldn't establish a significant presence in the competitive streaming market.

The exposed legal papers show internal dialogues at Meta regarding significant funding for unique content, encompassing planned series and brief segments. Allegedly, these talks took place during Hastings' tenure on Meta's board, leading to worries about conflicting interests and possible conspiracies.

A crucial incident took place at the 2017 Recode conference when Hastings minimized the rivalry between Netflix and Facebook, only to later express remorse in an email to Meta's leadership. The complainants claim that Meta's former COO, Sheryl Sandberg, and Hastings deliberately conducted conversations to distract from the direct competition between their firms in the video streaming industry.

As the antitrust case continues, insights from the disclosed legal papers provide a peek into the intricate relationships between tech behemoths and streaming platforms. These insights underscore the potential impact of business partnerships on market competition and the options available to consumers.

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