UK competition watchdog orders Facebook owner to sell gif website Giphy

CMA said order would protect users and stop Meta increasing its power in social media'

Facebook parent company Meta has been ordered by the UK competition watchdog to sell the gif creation website Giphy, the first time the regulator has moved to block a deal struck by one of the Silicon Valley giants.

The Competition and Markets Authority, which provisionally ruled in August that a sell-off was the only way to resolve competition concerns, said the move would protect millions of social media users" and stop Facebook increasing its significant power in social media".