On 22 October 2026, Czech publishers' associations warned that Meta's new terms, applying from 30 October, may restrict publishers' rights to their content, and asked the European Commission to review them.
On 22 October 2026, four Czech publishers' associations released a joint statement on the new terms of the US company Meta Platforms, which are to apply from 30 October 2026. It was signed by Sdružení pro internetový rozvoj, Česká unie vydavatelů, Správce licenčních práv vydavatelů and Asociace online vydavatelů.[1][3]
Publishers' objections
Meta operates the social networks Facebook and Instagram and the messaging platform WhatsApp. According to the associations, the existing rules apply to content that users and companies publish through its services. The new arrangement, they say, also concerns publishers' own websites and allows automated crawling, indexing, copying and repeated retrieval of content from their domains, including articles, archives, photographs and videos. Content obtained in this way may, according to the statement, be further distributed by means of artificial intelligence.[1][2]
The associations argue that the permissions go beyond what is necessary to operate social networks and that publishers are not to receive a licence fee for such use. If acceptance is a condition of access to a key distribution platform, this may, in their view, conflict with competition law.[1][2]
Demands
The associations are to call on Meta to limit the permissions to content that a publisher knowingly provided for a specific use on its platforms. They ask the European Commission to review the compliance of the terms with European rules without delay and to consider a temporary suspension of the disputed provisions, because after a blanket collection of content restoring the original state will, in their view, be practically impossible. They are also preparing a legal assessment for the Úřad pro ochranu hospodářské soutěže and other bodies.[1][2]
Background
In May 2026, leading publishing companies in the United States sued Meta. They claim it used the content of their novels, textbooks and scientific articles to train artificial intelligence without permission, and they demand unspecified compensation. Meta stated that it would defend itself against the lawsuit.[1][3]
Related articles: Meta Platforms
Chronology
- — Czech publishers warned that Meta's new terms may restrict their rights to content and called on the European Commission to intervene. ČTK / České noviny Novinky.cz
Sources
- ČTK / České noviny — 22 October 2026
- Novinky.cz — 22 October 2026
- Seznam Zprávy — 22 October 2026