UK CMA opens investigation into Meta's commercial terms for publishers and advertisers

On 30 October 2026, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 into suspected breaches of competition law by Meta over its commercial terms for businesses using its platforms and services. The CMA is concerned that requiring businesses to accept these terms may amount to the imposition of unfair trading conditions on businesses that rely on Meta's services to reach customers and audiences.

The investigation will assess whether Meta holds a dominant position in a relevant UK market and, if so, whether the terms amount to an abuse of that position. The CMA says the terms could allow Meta to collect content from publishers' and advertisers' websites and use it to develop and provide its own products and services, including AI features, without giving those businesses a choice over whether or how their content is used. The businesses under investigation are Meta Platforms, Inc., Facebook UK Limited and Facebook Ireland Limited.

Meta had planned to revise the terms on 20 November 2026 but has put the rollout on hold pending consultation with industry groups; existing terms remain in place. Meta said there are "no grounds" for an investigation and that it has committed not to change its terms without consulting publishers and other stakeholders. The CMA states that no decision has been made on whether Meta has broken competition law, and that rapid initial information gathering and engagement is scheduled from October 2026 to January 2027.

This is a new regulatory step in the same dispute covered by earlier items on Meta's delayed rollout, the Norwegian interim bar, and publisher letters; it is not a finding of infringement.