London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Meta appealing UK ruling ordering it to sell Giphy

Meta appealing UK ruling ordering it to sell Giphy

Facebook owner says British watchdog's 'decision to block the deal is wrong on the law and the facts'

Facebook owner Meta Platforms, Inc. says it is appealing a United Kingdom watchdog's ruling ordering the social media giant to sell New York-based animated picture platform Giphy over antitrust concerns.

Last month, Britain's Competition and Markets Authority ordered Meta to unwind its reportedly $400 million acquisition of Giphy, which was completed in May of 2020 while Meta was still named Facebook.

In this photo illustration a Giphy logo is seen on a smartphone screen with a Facebook logo in the background. 


CMA argued that through its ownership of Giphy, Meta "would be able to increase its already significant market power in relation to other social media platforms" by "denying or limiting other platforms' access to Giphy GIFs, driving more traffic to [Meta]-owned sites – Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram – which already account for 73% of user time spent on social media in the UK." The watchdog had previously argued that the only other major GIF-provider is Google's Tenor.

Meta is now pushing back against the order.

"We are appealing the CMA’s GIPHY decision and will seek a stay of the CMA’s order to divest," the social media giant said in a statement on Thursday.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg speaks during a live-streamed virtual and augmented reality conference to announce the rebrand of Facebook as Meta, in this screen grab taken from a video released October 28, 2021.


"The decision to block the deal is wrong on the law and the facts, and the evidence does not support the CMA's conclusions or remedy," Meta's statement continues, arguing, "Together, Meta and GIPHY would improve GIPHY’s product for the millions of people, businesses, developers and API partners in the UK and around the world who use GIPHY every day, providing more choices for everyone."

A person familiar with the deal told FOX Business that Giphy approached Facebook (and other potential buyers) about being acquired, not the other way around.

The CMA's move was unprecedented not only because it was the first time the antitrust watchdog has demanded the break-up of a tech acquisition, but it raised alarms for American business groups who question the U.K. government's authority to step in on a deal between U.S. companies.

(L) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (Photo by Tom Nicholson-WPA Pool/Getty Images) (R) Mark Zuckerberg, chief executive officer and founder of Meta.


"This foreign action to block acquisition activity of two U.S.-based companies is unprecedented, and startling," Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council president and CEO Karen Kerrigan said in a statement following CMA's ruling.

"America’s dynamic and productive startup ecosystem is the jewel of the global marketplace, and the U.K.’s bold overreach directly undermines our innovative and investment environment," Kerrigan continued. "This is a serious matter for the Biden Administration and Congress to address, as the U.K. Competition and Market Authority’s action could snowball and cause disruption for a broad range of U.S. sectors, as well as the health of global entrepreneurship and functioning of capital markets."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×