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Meta pauses its new commercial terms, which critics said could let it scrape business customers' websites; existing terms stay in force and no new date is set
Meta paused its updated commercial terms, due November 20, after a scraping outcry. Existing terms stay, no new date. Meta denies targeting news sites.
On November 5, 2026, Meta indefinitely paused its updated commercial terms, which were due to take effect on November 20. Legal experts and publishers had warned the terms could let Meta scrape the websites of Meta Business account holders, including news sites. Meta says its existing terms remain in effect and that it will keep talking to stakeholders. This is a pause, not a withdrawal, and no new date has been given.
The essentials
- What was paused: updates to four documents: the Commercial Terms, Product Catalog Terms, Self-Serve Ad Terms and Ad Creative Generative AI Terms.
- What Meta says: the update was not about scraping news sites and mainly consolidated crawling rules spread across documents. A spokesperson said the changes are paused while Meta engages with stakeholders.
- What critics said: legal experts told Nieman Lab the wording could be used to argue Meta may scrape content from sites linked to Business accounts. Meta removed the word "train" in mid-October and limited later use of scraped content to advertising and business products.
- Pressure: a Norwegian court issued a temporary injunction on October 28 at the request of 180 media companies; the UK Competition and Markets Authority opened an investigation; US senators Schiff and Blackburn asked Zuckerberg to withdraw the terms.
Does the pause settle the scraping question?
Not by itself. Coverage notes that the suspension sets no new limits on Meta's existing crawlers, and that site owners can still block Meta's crawler with a robots.txt file, a point Meta made even though the new terms did not state it. The pause means business customers will not have to accept the new terms on November 20. If Meta returns with revised terms, publishers' three stated demands in Norway are a likely reference point: respect for scraping reservations, separate paid agreements for AI use of journalism, and no marginalization of publishers that decline.
How did it get here?
Nieman Lab first reported the terms on October 15. The start date moved from October 30 to November 20 after complaints to EU and UK regulators, a Norwegian injunction followed on October 28, and Meta pledged consultation the same week. AI Weekly also reports a Brazilian court barred Meta from using journalistic content without authorization; we found no second source for that.
What is not established
- Whether and when Meta will return with revised terms: no date given.
- What the revised wording would say about scraping and AI use of site content.
- How the Norwegian injunction and the UK investigation proceed now that the terms are paused.
- Whether the Brazilian ruling is as described: only one source.
Summary table
| Point | What is stated as of November 6, 2026 | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Pause announced | November 5, 2026; terms will not take effect November 20 | Nieman Lab, Reuters |
| Existing terms | Remain in effect | Reuters, FourWeekMBA |
| New date | None given | FourWeekMBA |
| Meta's position | Not about scraping news sites; consolidating crawling rules | FourWeekMBA, Herald and News |
| Norway | Temporary injunction on October 28 for 180 media companies | Herald and News |
| UK | CMA investigation into possible exploitative terms | AI Weekly |
FAQ
Did Meta cancel the terms?
No. It paused them indefinitely and says it will keep consulting stakeholders; existing terms remain in effect.
Did Meta admit it wanted to scrape sites?
No. Meta says the update was not about scraping news sites. Critics and legal experts said the wording could be read that way.
Can I block Meta's crawler?
Meta has said site owners can block its crawler with robots.txt, though the new terms did not state it.
Method and limits
Sources checked on November 6, 2026. Details come from press coverage; we did not read the terms themselves, which Meta took offline. Statements of legal experts are as reported by Nieman Lab and others. This is not legal advice.
Sources
- Nieman Lab: Meta pulls down controversial terms of service (verified 2026-11-06)
- Global Banking & Finance (Reuters): Meta pauses planned terms updates, keeps existing rules in place (verified 2026-11-06)
- Herald and News: Meta delays new business terms after outcry over potential web scraping of news sites (verified 2026-11-06)
- FourWeekMBA: Meta Pauses Its Business Terms 21 Days After Scraping Outcry (verified 2026-11-06)
- CIO: Meta does a U-turn on controversial new AI terms for businesses (verified 2026-11-06)
- AI Weekly: Meta Pauses Nov 20 Scraping Terms After Norway, Brazil Rulings (verified 2026-11-06)
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