Microsoft was given an unfair advantage and many key lawsuits were adjudicated to their advantage.
Facebook and many other SM platforms were developed by the government. Competitors were absorbed or canceled.
The government is desperate to keep tabs on everyone everywhere. In the Philippines FB Messanger is free, but people pay for most other internet activities, text, and talk. They have more unanimity than we do now. IE all phones are basically burner phones because sims are dirt cheap, and the phones are loaded with cash. There's NO commercial value because income levels are so low, there's very little disposable income.
I have way too much A.D.D. to put effort into recalling and researching the details, but yes, I noticed there was surveillance going on since phone phreaking, and Pirate BBS was a thing...
But I like to get conversations started that yield better details like you just provided. TY.