Meta to Begin Scraping Websites Linked to Business Accounts Starting October 30

Publishers and Businesses Face New Data Exposure

Meta announced that its web crawlers will be permitted to collect content from websites connected to business accounts across its platforms, including Facebook Pages and Instagram profiles. The policy change takes effect on October 30, 2026, and applies to any organization or public figure maintaining a business presence on Meta's services. News publishers who operate business accounts will also fall under this new scraping authorization.

The updated commercial terms of use grant Meta the right to deploy automated tools to crawl and index publicly available content from domains associated with verified business profiles. This includes text, images, and other media published on those external websites. Meta says the change supports its efforts to improve ad targeting and content recommendations while giving businesses more control over how their online presence appears across its ecosystem. The company previously restricted scraping to public posts and metadata only.

Under the revised terms, any website URL listed in a business account profile becomes eligible for automated crawling by Meta's systems. This means news outlets, e-commerce sites, and corporate blogs linked to Facebook or Instagram business pages could see their content indexed and repurposed within Meta's advertising and content delivery infrastructure. The policy does not specify opt-out mechanisms for individual pages or posts, leaving businesses with limited ability to restrict how their web content is used once associated with a business account.

How Will This Affect Content Creators and Publishers?

Meta's approach mirrors similar practices employed by Google and other tech giants, which routinely crawl web content for search indexing and ad targeting. However, unlike traditional search engines that primarily display links back to original sources, Meta's use case involves integrating scraped content directly into its social media feeds and advertising systems. This raises concerns among publishers about potential revenue loss if users engage with content within Meta's walled garden rather than visiting original websites.

The policy shift particularly impacts news organizations and content creators who maintain business accounts to promote their work on Meta's platforms. These entities often rely on social media referrals to drive traffic to their websites, where they monetize through subscriptions, advertising, or donations. With Meta now authorized to scrape and potentially repurpose their web content, publishers may see a decline in direct site visits as users consume articles and media directly within Facebook or Instagram interfaces.

Smaller publishers and independent creators face disproportionate risks, as they lack the legal resources to negotiate separate agreements with Meta. Large media companies with existing licensing deals may be less affected, but the broad language of the new terms leaves room for expanded data usage beyond current arrangements. Critics argue that the policy gives Meta unilateral control over how third-party content appears across its services without adequate compensation or transparency.

Looking ahead, this change could reshape how businesses approach their social media strategies, potentially leading to fewer external website links in business profiles or increased reliance on Meta's own publishing tools. Regulatory bodies in the EU and US may scrutinize the policy for antitrust implications, particularly if it leads to reduced traffic and revenue for competing platforms or publishers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of websites are affected by this scraping policy? Any website linked to a business account on Meta's platforms, including corporate sites, news publishers, blogs, and e-commerce stores that maintain verified business profiles on Facebook or Instagram.

Can businesses opt out of having their content scraped? The policy does not specify opt-out mechanisms for individual pages or posts, meaning businesses have limited ability to restrict content usage once their website is associated with a business account.

When does this policy take effect? The new commercial terms allowing Meta to scrape associated websites go into effect on October 30, 2026.