Meta Drops 'Train' From Business Terms as AI Clause Survives
The revised terms take effect October 30 and still let Meta automatically collect content from external websites tied to business accounts.
Meta has revised the terms of service for business accounts on Facebook and Instagram, removing the word "train" from the stated purposes for which it uses collected content, according to aitimes.com. The revised terms take effect on October 30 and apply to companies using business accounts on the two platforms.
The change does not remove the clause allowing Meta to automatically collect content from external websites associated with business accounts. Legal experts say the revised wording can still be read as permitting use of that content for "business product development", which may include AI model training.
The revised terms also do not explicitly state that Meta respects website operators' opt-out settings, despite Meta saying it does, according to aitimes.com. News organizations that do not accept the terms must stop using Facebook and Instagram business services.
Meta said the revision consolidated provisions previously scattered across existing terms, which had covered website content collection in connection with AI-based ad creation. Nieman Lab reported on October 15 that the revised terms could serve as a basis for using news organization content for AI training without a separate contract.
Publishers push back
The News/Media Alliance demanded that the revised terms be halted, calling them an abuse of Meta's market dominance. The News Media Association urged the UK government and regulators to intervene, while the European Publishers Council asked EU authorities to investigate copyright, contract fairness and abuse of market dominance concerns.
Quick answers
When do Meta's revised business account terms take effect?
The revised terms take effect on October 30 and apply to companies using business accounts on Facebook and Instagram.
Does the revision stop Meta from using website content for AI training?
The word "train" was removed from the stated purposes, but the terms still allow automatic collection of external website content, and legal experts say they can still be read as permitting use for product development that may include AI training.
What happens to news organizations that reject the terms?
They must stop using Facebook and Instagram business services.