Virtual reality check: The Tipline for 2 February 2023

The Federal Trade Commission’s challenge to Meta/Within was always going to be a soul-searching mission. Chair Lina Khan drew a line in the sand: the next Facebook/Instagram or Google/DoubleClick will not go by unchallenged. In the face of defeat, the Democratic majority must now decide whether to double down or save its scarce resources for another day. The agency did get somewhat of a boost elsewhere, however, with a pair of Senators introducing a non-compete bill on Wednesday that largely mirrors the FTC’s proposed rulemaking.