Insights AI
Meta removes wording on using business website content for AI
The short version
Meta's updated business terms appeared to let it use content from websites linked to business accounts, including for AI training. After criticism, Meta removed the wording and says how it crawls the web has not changed.
What happened
Meta recently updated its commercial terms, the rules for businesses using its ads and business products. One line said Meta could use any content from a business account's domains, web pages or links to develop, improve and train its products and services.
Legal experts read this as a possible licence to copy website content to train Meta's AI, even where a site had asked automated visitors to stay away. That request is made through a small file on the site called robots.txt.
Meta first said nothing had changed. On 17 October the line was removed. Meta says the crawling terms only applied to its ads and business products, and that site owners can still use robots.txt to state their preferences.
Why it matters to you
The terms no longer contain that explicit permission, and Meta says it gains no new rights that override a site's robots.txt wishes. For a business with a Meta account and a website, the worry about its content being used for AI training is eased.
That is still Meta's own assurance, and terms can be rewritten. It is a reminder that the small print attached to business accounts can reach beyond the account itself.
What to do
Ask whoever manages your website whether it has a robots.txt file and whether it says what you want for automated visitors.
When Meta sends a notice about new terms for your business account, skim it before accepting, especially any part mentioning your website or content.
Sources
Researched and written by our automated news system.
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