The FTC is preparing a potentially hopeless lawsuit against Facebook

In a case where Washington is challenging the company’s dominance on Facebook social media, according to people familiar with the matter, the Federal Trade Commission is set to file a no-confidence motion against Facebook Inc. by the end of the year.

The lawsuit was filed after the FDC spent more than a year worrying that Facebook was using its powerful market position to mitigate competition as part of a broader effort by U.S. trust officials to investigate the behavior of a handful of dominant technology companies.

No final decision has been made on whether to sue Facebook, and those familiar with the matter have said that when it comes to filing a no-confidence complaint against Google, the Commission does not always bring cases even when it makes arrangements for it. Inc. in 2013 after a lengthy investigation.

As the investigation progresses in its final stages, Facebook is in the process of sending its case to the Commission, and the latest efforts by FTC staff have been added. Take testimony From CEO Mark Zuckerberg, something the commission did not do during a previous inquiry into the company’s privacy practices. That thing resulted in one $ 5 billion settlement.

In a five-member FTC, a majority must vote in favor of any case. The commission is made up of three Republicans, including President Joseph Simons and three Democrats.