Meta owns Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
The Norwegian media companies that are plaintiffs in the dispute believe the new terms gave Meta the right to collect content from every article, image and video they published - including content behind a paywall. The media companies say this content could be used in Meta’s AI products.
The terms were due to take effect on November 20. The Oslo District Court has suspended their introduction until it has examined whether they constitute an abuse of a dominant position under competition law.
“Risk of losing control”
“This is very welcome news. Meta’s strong position makes it difficult for media companies to reject the terms without also risking traffic, readers and subscription revenue. It is good that their introduction has now been halted pending an examination of the issue,” says Johan Taubert, CEO of the Swedish Newspaper Publishers (TU), in a press release.
The Oslo District Court writes in its decision that the media companies “risk losing control over editorial content that has been built up over many years.”
According to the media companies, their only option would have been to delete their accounts.
Meta postpones
Meta’s communications manager writes on X that the company is postponing the introduction of the new terms until it has held a “full consultation” with industry leaders and groups.
TU writes that, together with the Journalists’ Association, it has raised the issue with the Swedish Competition Authority and the government and requested an “urgent clarification” on whether the terms comply with EU and Swedish law.
