Meta ordered to sell Giphy

The news: The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has ordered Facebook parent Meta to divest ownership of GIF search engine Giphy, per Insider.

More on this: The UK’s CMA concluded an in-depth probe into Facebook’s acquisition of Giphy and found Facebook’s ownership reduces competition between social media platforms.

• Facebook’s acquisition of Giphy was completed last year for $400 million, ostensibly to bolster the social network’s advertising business. Giphy has 65 million monthly active users.
• The merger immediately raised concerns from UK regulators who had ordered Facebook to pause plans to integrate Giphy, which led to a lengthy court battle. The CMA fined Facebook $67 million in October for failing to provide information on the merger. 
• This is the first time a Big Tech company like Meta has been ordered to divest its ownership of a business. 
• Meta can appeal the decision in the UK’s Competition and Appeals tribunal. “We disagree with this decision,” a Meta spokesperson said. “We are reviewing the decision and considering all options, including appeal.”

What’s next? The CMA’s decision means Meta will need to find a buyer for Giphy or face a protracted legal appeal. 

What’s the catch? Either way, Meta will not be able to take full advantage of Giphy’s potential for advertising or monetization, which is a missed opportunity for Meta’s properties like Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Meta will also lose control over how its competitors use Giphy in their own apps and services.

• The UK’s CMA decision underscores the danger of closing a Big Tech merger without prior regulator approval. 
• "The forced sale could bring back one of the key appeals of Giphy: its cross-platform reach," said Nina Goetzen, analyst at Insider Intelligence's eMarketer briefing.
• This is the first example of regulators ordering a company to sell an acquisition versus levying fines—and a shot across the bow for any merger-hungry Big Tech company planning a large acquisition that could have anticompetitive undertones.  

Editor's note: Our eMarketer Briefing team also covered this story today. Check out their take on the Meta-Giphy ruling here.