Meta removed contract language that could have let it scrape and train on publisher content for free, days after the terms drew scrutiny from Nieman Lab and others.
Meta's updated business terms had included language suggesting it could crawl and scrape content from sites 'associated' with businesses using its platforms, including news publishers. After reports flagged the implications for AI training rights, Meta removed the disputed language.
A Meta spokesperson said the change does not reflect any shift in how the company actually crawls the web, framing the edit as a clarification rather than a policy reversal.
Publishers are now reading AI company terms of service line by line, and backlash can force fast reversals even from the biggest platforms. Media and content businesses negotiating AI licensing deals should treat this as leverage: scrutiny works.
The daily signal, curated. Get it in your inbox.
Subscribe on LinkedIn →