GoKawiilMeta's updated business terms could let it scrape partner sites for AI training
Meta is rolling out new commercial terms of service, effective October 30, that give the company broad rights to collect content from websites linked to business accounts, including for use in training AI systems. The terms don't explicitly mention AI but reference automated crawling and a single use of the word 'train,' and offer no direct opt-out for businesses that accept them. Meta says it has no current plans to override robots.txt protections that let publishers block its crawlers.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
News organizations warn the terms could let Meta sidestep the licensing fees it currently pays some publishers for AI training data, since nearly every news outlet maintains a Meta business account. Legal experts suggest that if courts rule AI training on public content is fair use, Meta's current promise not to override robots.txt could become moot, potentially letting it scrape news content freely. The ambiguity leaves publishers uncertain whether their existing protections and licensing leverage will hold.
- New Meta commercial terms take effect October 30 with no explicit opt-out for business accounts.
- Nieman Lab and legal experts say the terms could undermine AI licensing deals with news publishers.
- Meta says it won't currently override robots.txt blocks, but that stance could shift depending on ongoing AI fair-use court rulings.
Source: tech.slashdot.org, 2026-10-16
Published there as: “Meta May Use Sweeping New Commercial TOS to Avoid Millions In AI Licensing Fees”
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