Meta delays new terms for professional users

Meta has delayed the implementation of its updated commercial terms for professional users until November 20, after facing objections from publishers and advertisers. The original implementation date was set for October 30, but the company has granted an additional three weeks to better explain its intentions.

New terms allow Meta to harvest content

The updated terms would have allowed Meta to use web crawlers to access, index, cache, analyze, collect, retrieve, or explore domains, web pages, or URLs associated with professional users. These users include publishers and advertisers who operate Facebook or Instagram accounts. The collected content could be used to improve Meta’s products and AI models.

Concerns over AI training rights

The terms originally included the word "train" when describing how Meta could use the data, but it was later removed after concerns were raised by experts. Critics argue that Meta may be using this access to train its AI models without proper compensation or consent from content creators.

Regulators and publishers raise objections

British and European antitrust authorities have received complaints from publishers and advertisers, who are worried Meta might use their content for AI development. A Meta spokesperson told Reuters the company is delaying the effective date of the updated terms to give partners and stakeholders more time to understand the changes.

Meta aims to clarify crawler use

Meta aims to clarify how it uses crawlers and reassure users that it respects the instructions in the robots.txt file. This file tells search engines and other services which parts of a website can be accessed or indexed. The European Commission welcomed the delay but the European Publishers Council (EPC) continues to push for a suspension of the terms during the ongoing review.

EPC calls for clearer legal limits

Angela Mills Wade, executive director of the EPC, said managing a professional page or advertising a subscription should not grant Meta general rights over a publisher’s website and archives. She added that any use of content beyond what is necessary for the service should require separate and explicit permission from the rights holder.