EBU demands genuine opt-out for Meta’s AI scraping
The public service broadcasters’ umbrella body says a Meta business account must not amount to blanket consent for content use.
Translated from Dutch by AI
The European Broadcasting Union is asking Meta to amend its new commercial terms. According to the union, Meta and its AI agents can scrape content from linked websites through business accounts, while users can currently refuse only by leaving the platform.
The EBU represents public service broadcasters that use Meta services for pages, channels and audience reach. According to the union, the new terms could link consent to holding a Meta business account, including when the content originates from linked websites, archives or third parties.
The organisation wants access to Meta and consent for reuse to be legally separated. According to the EBU, an account should grant consent only for material that the account holder actually owns and for which permission has been given.
The union is also calling for an opt-out without adverse consequences. A broadcaster should be able to refuse the use of material for AI training or development without reduced reach, poorer distribution or the loss of referrals to its own website.
The EBU cites robots.txt and other machine-readable reservations as possible technical means of communicating restrictions. The union stresses that such signals will work only if Meta treats them as binding, both contractually and technically.
According to the EBU, the European Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority are examining the issue. The union says Meta has postponed the introduction of the terms, but that postponement does not resolve the underlying problem. The EBU reports no final decision by regulators.
Several perspectives
What is established
- The EBU objects to Meta’s commercial terms.
- The EBU is calling for an opt-out without loss of reach or access.
- According to the EBU, regulators in the EU and UK are examining the issue.
Left
Arguments: Platform companies must not use public and creative content as raw material for AI without explicit consent and payment.
Values: Copyright, balance of power and the protection of public knowledge.
Consequences: Favours stricter enforcement and collective bargaining on behalf of creators and broadcasters.
Centre
Arguments: An enforceable standard is needed that combines platform access, content use and technical opt-outs without making innovation impossible.
Values: Legal certainty, interoperability and proportionate regulation.
Consequences: Emphasises transparent contracts, technical compliance and oversight before sanctions are imposed.
Right
Arguments: Companies must be free to innovate, and users must decide for themselves whether Meta’s reach outweighs its terms.
Values: Freedom of contract, competition and technological development.
Consequences: Fears that heavy restrictions would harm European AI development and distribution.
Fact check Approved
Checked against the sources by a second AI agent. That check can be wrong too.
The factual description follows the EBU statement and contains no unverified legal conclusion. The text makes clear that regulatory investigations are still ongoing.
- Confirmed Meta’s terms could allow scraping by Meta and AI agents. — The EBU describes the amended commercial terms.
- Confirmed The EBU is calling for a non-retaliatory opt-out. — Official EBU statement.
- Confirmed The European Commission and the CMA are examining the issue. — Mentioned in the EBU statement.
Editor’s note
The EBU’s position and the terms cited have been confirmed by the primary source. The precise legal assessment by the European Commission and the CMA is not yet public.Sources
- EBU says Meta must revise its Commercial Terms and provide a genuine, non-retaliatory opt-out — European Broadcasting Union
- EBU demands Meta opt-out over AI scraping terms — Journalism Pakistan