UK opens antitrust probe into Meta's content terms for AI

Summary

• Britain's CMA is investigating whether Meta imposes unfair commercial terms on publishers and advertisers.
• Disputed terms would let Meta use business website content for AI features without an opt-out.
• Thousands of UK businesses are affected; Meta paused the rollout on October 28.

The latest

Britain's competition regulator opened a formal investigation on October 30, 2026 into whether Meta abused a dominant position by imposing exploitative terms on businesses using Facebook and Instagram. At issue is language that would let the company scrape content from business and publisher websites to build and deliver its products, including AI features. The CMA said the terms could affect thousands of UK firms.

Details

• The core concern: According to the CMA, Meta's terms may allow it to collect content from the websites of businesses and publishers and use it to develop, improve and deliver its own products and services, including AI features, without giving those businesses a choice over whether their content is used or how.
• The legal basis: The probe runs under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998, which bars abuse of a dominant position. The regulator will first assess whether Meta holds a dominant position in a relevant UK market, then whether its commercial terms amount to an abuse of that position.
• Interim measures: The CMA noted the legislation allows interim measures where urgent action is needed to prevent significant damage while an investigation continues. No such measures have been announced, and the regulator has not set out a timetable for deciding whether to use the power.
• The timeline: Meta originally intended the terms to take effect on October 30, then pushed the date to November 20. On October 28 the company announced it was pausing the rollout pending consultation with industry groups. The regulator opened its case two days after that pause.
• Who complained: Concerns were raised with the CMA by the News Media Association, which represents news publishers, and by the Movement for an Open Web. The regulator said it will gather and assess evidence from Meta and from parties affected by the terms.
• The regulator's position: CMA Chief Executive Sarah Cardell said a company holding a dominant position must not use it to impose unfair terms, and that the authority will work towards a quick and satisfactory resolution of the case.
• Separate inquiries: The CMA is separately requesting information on Meta One, a new subscription service for businesses, and on Federation of Small Businesses concerns about posting external links on Facebook and Instagram without paying a subscription fee. Neither file sits inside this investigation and no decision on formal action has been taken.
• Digital markets limits: The regulator said its powers under the digital markets regime are limited here because Meta has not been designated with Strategic Market Status. The next batch of proposed candidates for that designation goes to the CMA Board in spring 2027.
• No finding yet: The CMA stressed it has reached no decision on whether Meta has broken the law and that no such conclusion should be assumed. Updates will be published on the case page.

Background

Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 prohibits firms with market power from exploiting it through unfair trading conditions. It is a separate track from the newer digital markets regime, which requires a Strategic Market Status designation before the CMA can impose conduct requirements on a platform.

Between the lines

The sequencing matters. Meta paused its rollout on October 28 and the CMA opened the case on October 30, so the regulator moved despite the terms not yet being live. Because Meta lacks Strategic Market Status and the next designation round only reaches the CMA Board in spring 2027, the older competition law is the fastest tool available, which also explains the reference to interim measures.

What's next

Watch whether Meta restarts the rollout after its consultation with industry groups, whether the CMA imposes interim measures, and the spring 2027 Board session on Strategic Market Status candidates.

Source: Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)