Meta may train its AI on your SME website under new terms
In brief
According to Nieman Lab, Meta is updating its commercial terms from 30 October. Professional accounts on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger would authorize Meta to automatically collect content from websites linked to a firm's products or services and to use it to train AI products. Meta says there is no change to how it uses web robots and that robots.txt still applies.
Source : The Verge - AI - « Meta’s new terms may allow it to train AI on news sites for free »
What it changes for an SME
If you have a professional account on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger, the terms that apply from 30 October would, according to Nieman Lab, authorize Meta to collect content from websites linked to your products or services and to use it to train its AI. Refusing may, under those terms, stop all commercial access to Meta's products. Meta says the goal is accurate product information for ads and recommendations, and that robots.txt still applies; legal experts cited by Nieman Lab argue the commercial terms could override other blocking instructions. Nieman Lab also notes that Meta recently started charging businesses to include links in posts and reels, while these terms would allow the same content to be collected.
What you can do
- Check which websites are linked to your Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp or Messenger professional accounts.
- Read Meta's commercial terms due on 30 October and what happens if you refuse commercial access.
- Review your robots.txt file, taking into account the disagreement between Meta and the legal experts cited by Nieman Lab.
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