GoKawiilMeta's new business terms let it scrape content from linked websites starting Oct. 30
Meta is updating the commercial terms of use for its Business Suite accounts, effective October 30, to authorize web scraping of websites 'associated with' those accounts, including news organizations' sites. The updated language says Meta can use automated tools to access, index, cache, and collect content, and explicitly states that collected material can be used to train Meta's AI products.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Legal experts who reviewed the terms told Nieman Lab the language could let Meta justify scraping journalism content worth millions in a licensing market, though they noted enforceability is untested. Because nearly every news outlet maintains at least one Meta business account, the change could affect a vast swath of publishers without their active negotiation, raising questions about consent buried in routine terms-of-service updates.
- New Meta business terms take effect October 30, authorizing scraping of associated websites.
- The terms explicitly allow collected content to train Meta's AI products.
- Legal experts warn publishers should assume the provision could be enforceable despite its unusual scope.
Source: niemanlab.org — Andrew Deck, 2026-10-15
Published there as: “Business accounts will consent to Meta scraping their websites Starting Oct. 30”
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