Meta removes language that may have allowed it to scrape news sites

<figure> <img alt="Image of the Meta logo and wordmark on a blue background bordered by black scribbles made out of the Meta logo." data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Illustration by Nick Barclay / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/02/STK043_VRG_Illo_N_Barclay_2_Meta.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">After backlash, Meta is <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1012846/meta-business-terms-scrape-news-publishers">updating its terms again</a> to remove language that suggested it could scrape content from sites, including news sites, to train its AI. Specifically, the following language no longer appears on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/legal/commercial_terms_preview">commercial terms page</a>:</p> <blockquote class="wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow"> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">… Meta may use any content from such domains, web pages, or URLs to provide, develop, improve, research, train, and maintain the integrity of, the Meta Company Products, services, and features provided under these Commercial Terms and any other applicable supplemental terms.</p> </blockquote> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Many, including <em><a href="https://www.niemanlab.org/2026/10/metas-new-commercial-terms-will-allow-the-scraping-of-news-sites-legal-experts-say/">Neiman Lab</a></em> and James Grimmelmann, a professor of digital and information law at Cornell, interpreted it as an …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/1013409/meta-removes-language-that-may-have-allowed-it-to-scrape-news-sites">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>