Snaps "Project Voldemort" file detailed Facebook's copy movement

Reportedly, Snap execs said that Instagram blocked searches for Snapchat-related content, including the # snapchat hashtag and filters. You also wouldn't find this material on Instagram's Explore section, according to Snap.

WSJ contacts also claimed that Facebook used press tactics. When Mark Zuckerberg met with Snaps Evan Spiegel, he allegedly asked the CEO to either accept a purchase at a fixed price or deal with Facebook copying Snapchat's features. (A similar tactic may also have been used against Foursquare's Dennis Crowley.) And since Instagram had not yet banned Snapchat links, it allegedly threatened influencers to lose their verified status if they shared those links.

Whatever Facebook may have done, it may have cause to worry about Project Voldemort. It is believed that Facebook is under FTC scrutiny for anticompetitive moves, including acquiring competing competitors and using Onavo tech to collect usage data for Snapchat. Between that and the Justice Department's extensive review of technical competition, Voldemort was able to provide investigators with a practical summary of Snap's complaints.

A spokeswoman on Facebook has defended the company's practice, claiming that the decision to "build and iterate" on rivals' functions contributed to competition and that Onavo technology was similar to other market research tools. Antitrust regulators may not see things that way, and it is quite possible that Snap's documentation could prompt officials to take action, whether it be fining Facebook and even liquidating some of its previous purchases.