By Sohaib Shams
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, over concerns it may be imposing exploitative terms on publishers and advertisers in breach of competition law.
CMA Concerns Over Exploitative Terms
The regulator said Meta’s commercial terms could allow it to access and use content from news publishers’ websites to develop its own products and services, including AI features, without giving businesses a choice over how their content is used. Meta had planned to revise the terms next month but put the changes on hold.
Regulator Acts on Publisher Complaints
CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said the watchdog moved swiftly after hearing concerns from news publishers and other businesses. The investigation will assess whether Meta holds a dominant position in a relevant UK market and whether the terms breach the 1998 Competition Act.
Meta Denies Grounds for Investigation
A Meta spokesman said there were no grounds for a competition investigation and noted the company had committed not to change its terms without consulting publishers and stakeholders. Meta welcomed the opportunity to explain its approach to the CMA.
