Meta delays business-account terms after news-site scraping outcry

Meta said it was postponing new terms for its business accounts after an outcry from media companies and open-web advocates. These are the rules governing businesses' use of its services.^[1]

The critics said the updated rules would allow Meta to scrape large amounts of data—automatically collecting content from websites—and potentially build competing services.^[1]

The delay pushes back the content-use arrangement publishers are challenging. If eventual terms let Meta use news-site content to build competing services, those services could draw readers away, weakening publishers' ability to earn advertising and subscription revenue. Postponement puts that route to competition on hold; the eventual business effect depends on the terms and how Meta uses the data.^[1]

Impact

• News publishing and digital mediaOpportunity

  Publishers using Meta business accounts have more time to assess what the new terms mean for control of their content. The delay leaves their competitive concerns unresolved, so any lasting benefit remains uncertain.^[1]