In late 2021, the long-shuttered social app Phhhoto filed an antitrust lawsuit against Meta. The startup alleged that Meta violated U.S. antitrust law by copying its core features and suppressing competition. U.S. District Judge Kiyo Matsumoto in 2023 granted Meta's motion to dismiss the complaint due to time limitations. However, on appeal, the court found that the case should have been heard as these time limits should not have applied.

Implications for Phhhoto

This decision gives Phhhoto another chance to argue that Meta engaged in anti-competitive behavior, ultimately leading to the demise of its company after Meta copied its features and restricted its growth. The case raises questions about how Meta used the introduction of an algorithm feed on Instagram to suppress Phhhoto's content, resulting in a decline in user registrations and engagement while Meta's own app gained popularity.Phhhoto claims that it discovered the algorithmic manipulation when it used a different account to post a video on Instagram. The same post received more likes and views on the other account, even though Phhhoto's account had 500 times more followers. This disparity led to concerns about Meta's actions.The district court never ruled on these claims as the judge determined that the four-year statute of limitations under the Sherman Act had expired. Phhhoto also argues that Meta used other anticompetitive tactics to harm its business.For instance, before Instagram launched its algorithmic feed in March 2016, Phhhoto alleged that Meta withdrew its access to the "Find Friends" API. This API allows third-party apps like Phhhoto to tap into Meta's social graph. Additionally, Meta terminated its plans to integrate Phhhoto's content into the Facebook News Feed as originally planned. Meta also introduced its own competitive product, the looping video app Instagram Boomerang, which copied Phhhoto's technology.Image Credits: MetaPhhhoto's appeal suggested that its case should have been heard by the court as the relevant part of its antitrust claim should have been subject to "equitable tolling based on fraudulent concealment." In other words, the court should have paused the statute of limitations as Phhhoto did not discover the issues with Meta's algorithmic feed until later. The company found out in December 2018 when documents filed in a federal lawsuit in California were made public, revealing that Meta had run a program called Project Amplify that manipulated and reordered posts and content in consumers' feeds for Meta's benefit.While the appeals court is not making a final decision on the case (as it never reached the point of a ruling), it concluded that the lower court erred at "each step of the fraudulent concealment analysis." This means the court's earlier decision against Phhhoto's antitrust claim was untimely and the case should be heard.The case will now be sent back to the district court for trial.Responding to a request for comment, a Meta spokesperson said, "As we have said since the beginning, this suit is baseless and we will continue to vigorously defend ourselves."

Google, in recent months, has been at the forefront of energy discussions. While nuclear power grabbed significant attention, it seems that Google's AI ambitions require more than just new reactors. The company is now collaborating with partners to build vast amounts of renewable power, battery storage, and grid upgrades to meet the energy demands of its data centers.

Google's Quest for Sustainable Energy to Fuel AI

Google's Deal with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate

Google announced on Tuesday that it signed a deal with renewable developer Intersect Power and investment fund TPG Rise Climate. This deal aims to generate enough carbon-free power to drive several gigawatt-scale data centers. The investment in renewable power is approximately $20 billion, and Intersect is already financing the first project. The deal also includes an $800 million equity investment in Intersect Power, with TPG leading the round and CAI, Google, and Greenbelt Capital Partners participating. This significant investment shows Google's commitment to sustainable energy.Google's rush to bolster its AI capabilities has led to a building spree that experts predict might leave new AI data centers underpowered by 2027. As a result, tech companies like Google are forced to invest in new energy sources. For the new project, a hypothetical 1 gigawatt-scale data center will be matched with an equivalent amount of wind, solar, and battery storage. This combination will have enough capacity to last two to four hours. Both the data center and the renewable power park will be connected to the same point on the grid, and Google will cover the cost of any required grid upgrades.The hope is that this arrangement will facilitate the quick connection of data centers and renewable power parks. According to Interconnection.fyi, there are 11,860 active requests in the U.S. from power producers wanting to connect with the grid, with a total capacity of 2.05 terawatts waiting. This is nearly double the current installed and connected capacity, and the majority of these requests are for solar and battery projects.

Phased Approach and Timelines

Google and Intersect will adopt a phased approach, with the first phase becoming operational by 2026 and fully completed by 2027. This highlights the speed at which renewable power can be deployed, putting pressure on nuclear power startups and developers with longer timelines. The quickest nuclear project, Microsoft's restarting of a reactor at Three Mile Island, is scheduled to come online in 2028. Google's deal with small modular reactor startup Kairos has a 2030 deadline for the first of several power plants, while Amazon's contract with SMR startup X-Energy is targeting the early 2030s. However, all these projects assume they will proceed as planned and be completed on time, which has been a challenge for the nuclear power industry so far.Renewable energy offers several advantages over nuclear power. Wind and solar energy are abundant and have minimal environmental impact. Battery storage allows for the efficient use and storage of energy, ensuring a continuous supply. Grid upgrades are crucial for integrating large amounts of renewable power and ensuring a stable energy grid. Google's efforts in building gigawatts of renewable power and upgrading the grid are a significant step towards a more sustainable future.In conclusion, Google's partnership with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate showcases the company's determination to address its energy needs through renewable sources. By investing in renewable power, battery storage, and grid upgrades, Google is not only meeting its current requirements but also setting an example for other tech companies to follow. The phased approach and timelines demonstrate the potential for rapid deployment of renewable energy, which could have a significant impact on the energy landscape in the coming years.