Mark Zuckerberg Testifies to Meta’s Virtual Reality Ambitions
Mark Zuckerberg was the chief executive of Meta. He was asked a series of questions by a federal court on Tuesday about what his hopes are for the immersive online universe of the metaverse.
Did his company have an interest in virtual reality? Did it invest in augmented reality technology? After Mr. Zuckerberg gave a clipped answer, he was asked by a lawyer if Meta, which controls Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, was trying to “shape the future of technology.”
He hesitated and moved to his seat, then replied “Yes.” Although it was a broad statement, Mr. Zuckerberg replied: “Yes.”
This exchange occurred on the seventh day of a hearing held in San Jose, Calif. It has the potential to change the way tech giants purchase start-ups, and expand the limits of antitrust law. The Federal Trade Commission will decide whether it will grant an injunction to Block Meta’s purchase of Within for $400 million. Within is a small company that creates a popular virtual reality exercise game.
