European publishers urge regulators to halt Meta's new AI content terms
The European Publishers Council, representing major media houses, has petitioned EU and UK regulators to suspend Meta's new terms effective 30 October. The changes allow Meta to use publisher content for AI products, sparking fears of uncompensated copying. Regulators in Brussels and London are reviewing compliance with the Digital Markets Act and market dominance, while Meta prepares to meet UK officials to explain the updates.
Key points
- The European Publishers Council, which includes German media giant Axel Springer, sent a letter to EU competition chief Teresa Ribera and tech chief Henna Virkkunen requesting a suspension of Meta's new business terms.
- The new terms, effective 30 October, permit Meta to utilize content from Facebook, Instagram, and advertising tools for its AI products, a move publishers fear enables copying without adequate compensation.
- UK regulators, the Competition and Markets Authority, are investigating whether Meta's market influence prevents publishers from realistically refusing the new conditions, with CMA chief Sarah Cardell planning a meeting with Meta.
- This dispute extends Meta's ongoing conflicts with European publishers, following previous payment negotiations in France and a legal challenge in Italy over content usage rights.
- A European Commission spokesperson confirmed awareness of the complaints, noting that Meta must comply with EU rules, including the Digital Markets Act, while assessing the new terms' legality.
European media executives have escalated their dispute with Meta, urging regulators in the European Union and the United Kingdom to intervene before new business terms take effect on 30 October. The European Publishers Council, a coalition that includes Axel Springer, the parent company of POLITICO, submitted a formal letter to EU competition chief Teresa Ribera and tech commissioner Henna Virkkunen. The group seeks a temporary suspension of the changes to allow for a thorough assessment of their compliance with EU law, particularly regarding how Meta utilizes publisher content for its artificial intelligence products.
The core of the conflict lies in the new terms, which apply to businesses using Meta’s tools for Facebook pages, Instagram accounts, and advertising. Publishers argue that these provisions grant Meta broad rights to copy their content for AI training and output, potentially undermining their revenue models. In the UK, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is examining whether Meta’s dominant market position leaves publishers with little choice but to accept the terms. CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell informed MPs that the regulator has requested explanations from Meta and scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to discuss the implications.
This latest development intensifies Meta’s friction with European media houses, following earlier legal battles in Italy and payment negotiations in France. A European Commission spokesperson acknowledged the situation, stating that Brussels is monitoring the changes and that Meta must adhere to the Digital Markets Act. As regulators weigh in, the outcome will set a precedent for how major tech platforms compensate content creators in the AI era.
Sources
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