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Media groups challenge Meta plan to use news content free

Published

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The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) sent an open letter to Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg. It says the proposed terms, due to start on 20 November, would let Meta collect publishers' content without payment.

WAN-IFRA said the terms would require publishers to let Meta collect and reuse their content without payment. This would be a condition of using Meta's business services. The body says its members include almost 20 000 publications in more than 120 countries.

The Oslo District Court has temporarily suspended the plan after a legal challenge by Norwegian media organisations. The UK Competition and Markets Authority said it would examine whether Meta is abusing its dominant position. The authority said the terms would let Meta collect content without offering publishers a choice, and use it to develop its own products, including AI features.

Zuckerberg said Meta would not change its terms until a full consultation with the media industry has ended. WAN-IFRA said Meta platforms are a main gateway to news for many users. In the letter, it wrote: "Producing journalism requires substantial financial resources."

Key facts

Who
Mark Zuckerberg (CEO of Meta Platforms); Meta Platforms (owner of Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, proposing the new terms); World Association of News Publishers (publishers' body that published an open letter to Zuckerberg); Ladina Heimgartner (WAN-IFRA president)
What
Meta's proposed commercial terms, which would have taken effect on 20 November, would allow it to collect content from publishers' websites without payment or choice. The Oslo District Court has temporarily suspended the push following a legal challenge by Norwegian media organisations, and the UK Competition and Markets Authority said it would examine whether Meta is abusing its dominant…
When
30 October 2026
Where
Oslo, Norway, United Kingdom
Status
Reported

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