UK CMA Opens Competition Probe Into Meta’s Terms for Businesses

The Competition and Markets Authority opened an investigation on 30 October 2026 into whether Meta’s commercial terms for businesses using its platforms and services breach competition law, the regulator announced in a press release. The CMA said the investigation, conducted under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998, will examine whether Meta is abusing a dominant position by imposing exploitative terms on publishers and advertisers. No decision has been made on whether Meta has broken the law, the regulator said.

According to the CMA, the terms could allow Meta to collect content from the websites of businesses and publishers that use its services and then use that content to develop and provide its own products and services, including its AI features, without those businesses getting a choice on if or how their content is used. The regulator said it is concerned that Meta requiring news publishers and other content businesses to accept these terms could amount to an unlawful imposition of unfair trading conditions for thousands of UK businesses that rely on its services to reach customers and audiences.

The investigation will assess whether Meta holds a dominant position in a relevant market in the UK and, if so, whether its terms amount to an abuse of that position under the Competition Act 1998. The Chapter II prohibition prohibits conduct by one or more undertakings that amounts to an abuse of a dominant position in a market and may affect trade within the United Kingdom. The CMA may launch an investigation under the act where it has reasonable grounds to suspect an infringement of competition law.

Revised Terms Delayed and Then Paused

Meta had originally planned to introduce changes to its commercial terms on 30 October 2026 but, following active engagement with the CMA, announced that implementation would be delayed until 20 November 2026. Meta then announced on 28 October 2026 a pause to the rollout of its commercial terms, pending a consultation with industry groups.

The CMA said it is using its Competition Act 1998 powers so it can urgently investigate concerns it has heard from stakeholders including the News Media Association and the Movement for an Open Web.

Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, said: “Digital platforms play an important role in helping UK businesses reach millions of customers around the world. But where a company holds a dominant position, it must not use that position to impose unfair terms.”

Cardell said the regulator had heard concerns from news publishers and other businesses and was acting swiftly to investigate whether Meta’s proposed changes may breach competition law, using the most appropriate powers available to it, and would work to reach a swift and satisfactory resolution to the case.

Case Timetable, Outcomes and Wider Digital-Markets Work

The CMA’s case page classifies the probe as a CA98 and civil cartels case in the digital markets sector, with its state listed as open and an opening date of 30 October 2026. The businesses under investigation are Meta Platforms, Inc. (META ), Facebook UK Limited and Facebook Ireland Limited, and the investigation may also concern other entities within Meta’s corporate group, including relevant UK subsidiaries.

An indicative timetable on the case page schedules rapid initial information gathering and engagement with Meta and third parties from October 2026 to January 2027, dates the CMA describes as subject to change. As part of the investigation, the CMA will gather and assess evidence from Meta and affected third parties.

Following its initial investigation and information gathering, the CMA may close the case if it decides not to proceed. If it provisionally considers that competition law has been infringed, it may issue a statement of objections setting out its concerns and give the parties an opportunity to respond before reaching a final decision. The Competition Act 1998 also allows the CMA to impose interim measures where temporary action is needed to prevent significant damage or protect the public interest.

The case page names the case team as Project Director Tamara Todorovic, Assistant Project Director Sil van Kordelaar and Senior Responsible Officer Lourenco Ventura, and invites anyone with information relevant to the investigation to contact the team.

The CMA said it has limited powers to take action under the digital markets competition regime for businesses that have not been designated with strategic market status, and that Meta has not been designated with that status to date. The regulator said it continues to keep potential candidates for designation under active review, with the next set of proposals due to be considered by the CMA Board in spring 2027.

Separately, the CMA is seeking information from Meta on its new Meta One business subscription service and on concerns raised by the Federation of Small Businesses about the potential impact on small businesses of posting external links on Facebook and Instagram without paying a subscription fee. The regulator said no decision has been taken on whether it will take formal action in that area and that those issues fall outside the scope of the Competition Act 1998 investigation opened on 30 October 2026.