From TechCrunch · Anthony Ha · · 1m 10s
Meta quietly removes AI training language from terms
Meta deleted controversial language from its commercial terms that appeared to let it scrape publisher websites for AI training, after legal experts raised concerns.
In brief
Meta deleted controversial language from its commercial terms that appeared to let it scrape publisher websites for AI training, after legal experts raised concerns. Meta removed terms allowing it to use business account content for AI training after legal experts flagged the provision as a potential scraping…
Meta's controversial new terms
Meta updated its commercial terms of use to say it could use any content from business account domains, web pages, or URLs to train and maintain its products and services.
“use any content from [a business account's] domains, web pages, or URLs to provide, develop, improve, research, train, and maintain the integrity of Meta products and services”
Legal experts flagged scraping risk
According to legal experts interviewed by Nieman Lab, the provision looked like it could give Meta permission to scrape publisher websites and use content to train AI models.
“remarkable provision”
Meta says nothing changed
Meta insisted the updated terms did not reflect a change in how it crawls the web. The company said the crawling terms only applied to ads and business products.
“It does not change how Meta uses web crawlers”
Meta removes the disputed language
The Verge reports that Meta has now removed the provision from its terms after the backlash, clarifying that the crawling terms only applied to ads and business products.
The key point
Meta removed terms allowing it to use business account content for AI training after legal experts flagged the provision as a potential scraping loophole.
