Competition watchdog opens investigation into Facebook owner Meta over terms that publishers fear let it 'scrape' their content for free

The Competition and Markets Authority has launched a formal investigation into Meta's proposed new terms and conditions, which publishers fear would allow the tech giant to harvest all their editorial content — including paywalled material — free of charge, to feed its AI models. The probe follows accusations from MPs, peers and campaigners that Meta has exploited its dominant market position. Meta insists there are 'no grounds for a competition investigation'.

Meta had already pushed the terms back once, to 20 November, but a ruling from a Norwegian court this week is expected to force a further delay.

Oslo District Court ruled that it must examine whether Meta's new terms are lawful, after publishers argued the changes would allow every article to be taken without consent or payment.

An audit revealed that Meta's own content protection rules prohibit the very activity the company is seeking to carry out with British publishers' material, leading executives to be labelled 'hypocrites'.