Digital publishers and advertisers have asked competition regulators in the European Union and the United Kingdom to suspend Meta’s revised commercial terms before they take effect on Thursday (October 30, 2026). They argue the changes could let the Facebook and Instagram owner access content from websites linked to business accounts and use it for its own services, including AI-powered products.
The Movement for an Open Web, an advocacy group representing publishers and digital advertisers, filed the complaint. The group wants regulators to take interim action while they examine whether Meta’s revised conditions could restrict competition and undermine businesses’ control over their content.
At the center of the dispute is how far-reaching Meta’s updated terms are. Publishers fear the changes could extend the company’s access beyond material shared directly on its platforms to content hosted on their own websites.
This could include articles and other digital material that publishers have invested time and money in producing. Media companies worry that such content could support Meta’s products without separate permission or licensing agreements.
Tim Cowen, co-founder of the Movement for an Open Web, argued that businesses dependent on Meta’s services could have little practical choice but to accept the revised conditions.
The group believes the terms could create an uneven playing field by allowing Meta to make use of content produced by businesses that may also compete with its services.
Meta has disputed the complaint, saying the revised terms apply to its advertising and business products. The company said the changes clarify existing conditions rather than introduce new rights to collect website content.
A Meta spokesperson also said website owners could use the robots.txt protocol to communicate their preferences regarding automated web crawlers. The company maintained that the update does not change how its crawlers operate.
However, publishers remain concerned that the revised wording does not sufficiently protect their content or limit how it can be used.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it met with Meta to discuss the updated terms and is holding urgent discussions as it considers its next steps. The European Commission confirmed it had received a complaint and would assess it through its usual procedures. It also reiterated its commitment to ensuring that Meta complies with EU law.
The request for interim measures faces a legal hurdle: applicants must show the alleged conduct could cause serious, irreparable harm.
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The complaint adds to growing tensions between publishers and technology companies over access to online content. As AI services expand, media organizations are increasingly seeking greater control over how they collect and use their work.
The regulators’ next steps could help determine whether Meta’s revised terms can proceed as planned or require further scrutiny before implementation.