UK competition regulator opens an investigation into Meta's commercial terms

The Competition and Markets Authority published a press release on 30 October 2026 saying it has opened an investigation into whether Meta's commercial terms for businesses that use its platforms and services breach competition law. The case page, also published that day, says the case is open, the case type is CA98 and civil cartels, and the investigation was opened on 30 October 2026. It names Meta Platforms, Inc., Facebook UK Limited and Facebook Ireland Limited. It says the investigation may also concern other entities in Meta's corporate group, including relevant UK subsidiaries.

The release says the terms could let Meta collect content from the websites of businesses and publishers that use its services and then use that content to develop and provide Meta's own products and services, including its AI features, without those businesses getting a choice on if or how their content is used. The CMA says it is concerned that requiring news publishers and other content businesses to accept the terms could amount to an unlawful imposition of unfair trading conditions. It says it is using Competition Act 1998 powers. The case page says the investigation will assess whether Meta holds a dominant position in one or more relevant markets in the UK and, if so, whether its existing commercial terms, or revisions to those terms, amount to an abuse of that position under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998.

The release says Meta had originally planned to introduce the changes on 30 October, then, after engagement with the CMA, said implementation would be delayed until 20 November, and on 28 October announced a pause pending a consultation with industry groups. The release describes the 20 November revision as put on hold. Sarah Cardell, the CMA's chief executive, said that where a company holds a dominant position it must not use that position to impose unfair terms, and that the CMA had heard concerns from news publishers and other businesses. The release and the case page both say no decision has been made on whether Meta has broken the law.

The case timetable lists October 2026 to January 2027 for rapid initial information gathering and engagement with Meta and third parties, and says those dates are indicative and may change. The release says a separate look at Meta's Meta One business subscription, including concerns from the Federation of Small Businesses about posting external links on Facebook and Instagram without a subscription fee, falls outside this investigation, and that no decision has been taken on formal action there. It also says Meta has not been designated with strategic market status under the digital markets competition regime, and that the next set of proposals for that status is due to be considered by the CMA Board in spring 2027.

What it means for business: this is the opening of an investigation, not a finding and not a fine. UK firms that rely on Meta's services, including publishers whose sites Meta could collect content from under the terms, are the group the CMA describes. The release says the planned change to the terms is on hold. This describes the case. It is not advice on whether to accept a particular set of terms.