Meta Removes AI Training Clause After Backlash
Meta removed language from its commercial terms that sparked concerns about AI training.
"Meta tried a sneaky move to train AI for free, but the internet caught on. They backed down, for now. Watch those terms, folks!"
Meta recently updated its commercial terms of use, initially stating that the company could "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. This language was interpreted by some, including legal experts interviewed by Nieman Lab, as potentially allowing Meta to scrape websites of publishers with a Meta business account to train its AI models. This sparked alarm about Meta scraping websites for potential AI training, with Ars Technica reporting that Meta might use these terms to avoid millions in AI licensing fees.
Following backlash, Meta has removed the controversial language. The Verge reported this removal, and TechCrunch confirmed that Meta removed language that raised scraping and AI training concerns. A Meta spokesperson insisted that the updated terms did not reflect a change in how Meta crawls the web, stating, “We’ve heard you and want to clarify: the crawling terms we consolidated only applied to our ads and business products, and we’ve clarified that in the terms themselves. It does not change how Meta uses web crawlers.” Startup Fortune also noted that Meta quietly deleted the AI training clause from its new business terms.
The initial terms, set to go into effect on October 30th, suggested Meta could use content from websites "associated" with businesses using its platforms. The swift removal of this language indicates a response to public and industry concerns regarding data scraping and AI training practices. This development highlights ongoing discussions around AI companies' use of online content and intellectual property.
Business owners and publishers should be aware of how platform terms of service can impact their content. This incident underscores the importance of scrutinizing platform policies, especially concerning data usage and AI training, to protect intellectual property and avoid unintended content utilization.
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