Meta has updated its commercial terms for business accounts on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger. The change takes effect on October 30 2026. It gives Meta permission to run automated software—scrapers, bots or crawlers—on any web page that a business promotes through its platforms. The scraped material can then be used to develop, improve, research and train Meta’s AI products.
How the policy differs from existing deals
Meta already pays for AI licensing deals with a few major outlets such as CNN, Fox News, USA Today and People Inc. Those agreements involve explicit contracts and fees. The new terms, however, let Meta pull content from a much larger pool of online publishers without a separate license, as long as the publisher’s site is tied to a business account that uses Meta’s ad or link services.
What it means for publishers and businesses
Publishers that do not want their articles used for AI training must reject the new terms. If they do, Meta says they could lose access to its platforms for commercial purposes. At the same time, Meta has launched a paid “Meta One” subscription that charges creators to include links in posts—links that Meta can now scrape for free under the new policy.
Why it matters
Publishers may see their articles used to train Meta’s AI without extra payment, potentially affecting the value of their content. Businesses that rely on Meta for marketing must decide whether to accept the terms or risk losing platform access. The move also raises questions about how much of the web will become free data for big‑tech AI training.
