Meta grants itself right to scrape content from business customers

Meta, the company behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has decided to modify its terms of service to permit the collection of content from the websites of its business customers. This new policy, set to take effect on October 30, 2026, authorizes Meta to use this information to train artificial intelligence models and improve its products.

With this update, the over one million businesses using Meta's services, including AI agents in WhatsApp and Messenger, will need to be more cautious about the information they share. This move could impact a wide range of sectors, as nearly every news publisher and many businesses use Meta business accounts for advertising and marketing.

Why it matters

Meta's decision to collect content from its business customers raises significant questions about privacy and data usage. Companies need to be aware that any information shared could be used to train AI models, which could have implications for their marketing strategies and customer perceptions.

Moreover, this policy could lead to a shift in how companies manage their online presence, as protecting sensitive information becomes crucial in an environment where data may be used without explicit consent from the owners.

What we know

The new clause from Meta applies to any business using its platforms for advertising, marketing, or sales. It is expected to affect a vast number of businesses that rely on online visibility to attract customers and generate revenue. The company has indicated that the purpose of this data collection is to improve its products and services through AI model training.

What remains unclear

It has not yet been confirmed how Meta plans to implement this data collection and what measures will be taken to protect sensitive information from businesses. It also remains to be seen how companies will react to this new policy and whether legal actions will be taken in response to these changes.