The Pulse
UK CMA Opens Competition Probe Into Meta’s Business Terms
The UK Competition and Markets Authority opened an investigation into whether Meta’s business terms unfairly let it use publishers’ website content, including for AI features. Meta has paused the planned changes while it consults industry g
AI.info Team · Written with AI · fact-checked ·
“But where a company holds a dominant position, it must not use that position to impose unfair terms.”
Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive of the Competition and Markets Authority
The CMA’s case turns on business access and content use
The UK Competition and Markets Authority opened an investigation on 30 October into whether Meta’s commercial terms for businesses breach competition law. The terms could let Meta collect material from the websites of businesses and publishers using its services, then use it to develop and provide products including AI features. The CMA says businesses may have no choice over whether or how their content is used if they accept the terms.
The regulator is examining whether Meta holds a dominant position in a relevant UK market and, if so, whether imposing the terms abuses that position under the Competition Act 1998. It opened the case after hearing concerns from stakeholders including the News Media Association and Movement for an Open Web. The CMA describes the potential effect as unfair trading conditions for thousands of UK businesses that rely on Meta’s services to reach customers and audiences.
Meta paused terms after moving the rollout date
Meta originally planned to introduce the changes on 30 October. After engaging with the CMA, it delayed implementation until 20 November; on 28 October, it announced a pause while it consults industry groups. The CMA says the planned revision is on hold.
The pause means the investigation begins before the revised terms take effect. The CMA’s case file names Meta Platforms, Inc., Facebook UK Limited and Facebook Ireland Limited as businesses under investigation, while noting the inquiry may also concern other entities in Meta’s corporate group. The regulator will gather evidence from Meta and affected third parties.
No finding yet on dominance or unlawful conduct
The CMA has not concluded that Meta broke the law, and says no assumption should be made that competition law has been infringed. The inquiry must first determine whether Meta is dominant in one or more relevant UK markets; only then does the question of abuse arise. Possible outcomes include closing the investigation or, if the CMA provisionally finds an infringement, issuing a statement of objections and giving the parties an opportunity to respond.
The agency is proceeding under the Competition Act 1998. Its case file sets out an indicative timetable for rapid initial information gathering and engagement with Meta and third parties from October 2026 through January 2027. That timetable may change.
A separate CMA inquiry remains outside the case
The regulator is also seeking information from Meta about its Meta One business subscription service and concerns raised by the Federation of Small Businesses about posting external links on Facebook and Instagram without paying a subscription fee. The CMA says it has not decided whether to take formal action on those issues, which sit outside the new competition investigation.
The distinction puts the case’s focus on the terms governing business use of Meta’s platforms and the possible collection and use of website content—not on a general ruling about AI training data. The next concrete step is the CMA’s evidence-gathering period, which the case file currently schedules to run through January 2027.