Tech & Gadgets

Meta Removes Scraping Language: 5 Steps to Protect Your

Meta removes language that raised scraping and AI training concerns from its commercial terms. Here are 5 practical steps to protect your site and data.

Published

1 day ago

October 18, 2026

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Meta Removes Scraping Language: 5 Steps to Protect Your

Meta removes language that raised scraping and AI training concerns — and if you run a website with a Meta business account, that change affects what you can safely assume about your own content. The company recently updated its commercial terms of use, then quietly stripped out a provision that legal experts told Nieman Lab looked like permission to scrape any publisher’s site and use the content to train Meta’s AI models. The reversal came after backlash. But Meta insists nothing about its crawling behavior actually changed.

That gap between what the terms said and what Meta says it does is the practical problem. You cannot audit a crawler’s intentions from a terms-of-service page. What you can do is take five concrete steps to document, restrict, and monitor how your content is accessed. Here is the workflow.

Table of Contents

Prerequisites: What You Need Before You Start

Meta removes language that raised scraping and AI training concerns

You need admin access to your domain’s DNS or server configuration, a robots.txt file you control, and a list of every Meta business account tied to your organization. If you use Meta Business Suite for ads or a Facebook Page, you have a business account. Pull that list first — the terms applied to content from your domains, web pages, or URLs, not just your social posts.

You also need a way to read your server logs. Any host with cPanel, Cloudflare, or raw Apache/Nginx access will do. Without logs, you are guessing.

Step 1: Read the Current Commercial Terms Yourself

Do not rely on a summary. Log into Meta’s business terms page and search for the words train, crawl, and domains. According to TechCrunch, the removed provision had declared Meta could use any content from a business account’s domains, web pages, or URLs to provide, develop, improve, research, train, and maintain the integrity of its products. That language is gone. What remains is narrower, according to Meta’s statement that the crawling terms only applied to ads and business products.

Screenshot the current version and date it. Terms pages change without notice, and a timestamped copy is the only evidence you will have if a dispute arises later.

Step 2: Audit Which of Your Sites Are Linked to a Meta Business Account

This is the step most publishers skip. The controversial clause did not require you to post content on Facebook. It referred to domains associated with a business account. If your news site, blog, or client site is listed in Business Manager for pixel tracking or domain verification, it may fall inside the scope of those commercial terms.

Open Business Settings, go to Brand Safety and Domains, and export the verified domain list. Cross-check it against every site you publish. Remove domains you no longer actively advertise on. Fewer linked domains means fewer surfaces covered by terms you did not negotiate.

Step 3: Configure Robots.txt and Server Rules for AI Crawlers

Robots.txt is voluntary, but it establishes intent and is the first thing a court or a licensing negotiator will look at. Add explicit user-agent rules for Meta’s crawlers and for AI training bots generally. A minimal block looks like this:

User-agent: meta-externalagent

Disallow: /

User-agent: FacebookBot

Disallow: /

Then add a Crawl-delay line for any bot you allow partially. On Cloudflare, enable the AI Crawl Control or bot management toggle if your plan includes it. On a self-hosted server, block known crawler IP ranges at the firewall and log the blocks. The point is not to win an unwinnable technical fight — determined scrapers rotate IPs. The point is to create a record showing you objected.

Step 4: Monitor Logs and Document Any Unusual Access

Set a weekly calendar reminder to scan your access logs for crawler user agents hitting pages with no inbound links. If you see thousands of requests to article URLs from a single ASN, that is worth noting. Export the log slice to a CSV and store it.

The TechBuzz analysis of the reversal makes the stakes plain: publishers from news organizations to niche blogs are worried about AI companies treating the open web as a free buffet, and some are already blocking crawlers or demanding compensation. Documentation is what turns a complaint into a claim.

Step 5: Put a Licensing and Consent Line in Your Footer

Add a short, plain sentence to your site footer: content on this site may not be used for AI training without written permission. Link it to a contact page. This costs nothing and does two things. It signals consent terms to anyone scraping at scale, and it gives you a clean reference point if you later negotiate a licensing deal.

If you publish at volume, consider a formal licensing page modeled on what larger publishers use. You do not need a lawyer to write the first draft, but have one review it before you send invoices.

Where the Meta Terms Change Leaves You

The removal of that language is not a victory for publishers. It is a clarification of ambiguity, and Meta has not explained why it removed the clause if nothing changed. That silence is the tell. Treat every platform’s terms as a snapshot, not a contract you can rely on.

The companies competing hardest for training data — Meta, OpenAI, and others — are under pressure to show they have licensed content rather than simply taken it. OpenAI, for its part, is reportedly in talks to raise at least $30 billion at a roughly $1.4 trillion valuation, per Bloomberg reporting via TechCrunch, and its run-rate revenue hit $40 billion in August. Companies at that scale can afford to pay for data. Your job is to make sure they know they have to ask.

Start with the screenshot today. Then export your domain list. The next terms update will arrive without a press release, and you want to be the publisher who can prove what the page said before it changed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Meta actually stop scraping websites for AI training?

Meta says the updated terms did not reflect a change in how it crawls the web. The company removed the language but has not said its crawling behavior changed, so publishers should assume the underlying practice is unchanged and rely on technical blocks and documentation.

Does the Meta terms change apply to my personal blog if I never run ads?

The provision referred to content from a business account’s domains, web pages, or URLs. If your blog domain is verified in Meta Business Manager for a pixel or domain verification, it may fall within those commercial terms. Check your verified domain list and remove sites you no longer need linked.

What is the fastest way to block Meta’s crawler from my site?

Add a robots.txt rule disallowing Meta’s crawler user agents, then enable bot management at your CDN or firewall if your plan supports it. Robots.txt is voluntary but establishes intent and creates a record that you objected to the access.

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Related Topics:2026 AI training data commercial terms of service Meta Nieman Lab publisher rights The Verge web scraping

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Curfew-to-Begin in France: What the Partial Curfews Mean

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Curfew-to-Begin in France: What the Partial Curfews Mean

Curfew-to-begin in France: PM Lecornu orders partial curfews after riots. Here’s what’s confirmed, what’s not, and how to track updates.

Published

7 minutes ago

October 19, 2026

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Curfew-to-Begin in France: What the Partial Curfews Mean

Curfew-to-begin is the phrase French officials are using as they order partial nighttime restrictions after weekend riots. Here’s what’s actually confirmed, what’s still unclear, and how to keep track if you’re in France or following the story.

What the Curfew Order Actually Says

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Monday he has instructed prefects — the government’s regional representatives — to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews to prevent more rioting and looting. That’s the curfew-to-begin instruction in plain terms.

He did not name the cities. He did not specify hours. He said details would be provided later Monday, according to the Associated Press report.

Lecornu ruled out a full curfew on entire cities such as Paris. He said a state of emergency could be declared if needed, but partial curfews seemed “more appropriate” at this stage.

One city has already moved: Marseille’s prefect banned public gatherings from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, effective immediately, enforced by law enforcement. That’s a gathering ban, not a nighttime curfew, but it shows how local orders are being rolled out piece by piece.

Why the Curfew Is Happening

The trigger was weekend violence that followed protests against the cost of living and poor school conditions. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez conceded police “lost control” in some major cities, including Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

Nuñez said intelligence suggested 200,000 demonstrators. More than 500,000 showed up. He acknowledged “a lack of anticipation” and said police numbers were sometimes inadequate. He offered his resignation; President Emmanuel Macron refused it and instead tasked him with ensuring transparency about planning and intelligence failures and implementing new operational methods.

The damage is significant. Authorities estimate at least 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted. The French Federation of Commerce and Distribution put the damage at “several hundred million euros.” Nearly 2,400 people were arrested, and almost 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured. A 19th-century city hall in Limoges burned, its roof collapsing.

How to Track the Curfew-to-Begin Details

If you’re in France or following this closely, don’t wait for a national announcement. The orders come from prefects, so check your local prefecture’s website and social accounts. That’s where hours, boundaries and exemptions will appear first.

Marseille’s order came from the Bouches-du-Rhône district in the Provence region. Other departments will issue their own. The national government has not published a consolidated list.

For English-language coverage, the Guardian’s report and the Israel Hayom account both track the political fallout. Local French outlets like Le Parisien and LCI are carrying shop-owner interviews and damage estimates.

What’s Confirmed vs. What’s Not

Confirmed: Lecornu instructed prefects to impose partial, localized curfews. Marseille has a gathering ban from noon to 8 p.m. Monday. Macron refused Nuñez’s resignation and demanded a security review. At least 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted.

Not confirmed: Which cities will have curfews. What hours they’ll run. How long they’ll last. Whether a state of emergency will be declared. Features of the curfew orders beyond Marseille’s gathering ban weren’t fully confirmed at the time of writing.

That gap matters. If you’re a resident, don’t assume your city is exempt because it wasn’t named in the first round of reporting.

How This Compares to Other Curfew Rollouts

France’s partial approach contrasts with the blanket citywide curfews used in Vienna, Georgia, after an October 4 mass shooting. Vienna issued a 72-hour citywide curfew starting at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday, with exemptions for work, medical care, emergencies and certain religious services, according to 41NBC.

Winston-Salem tried a youth curfew for under-18s from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., then let it lapse. A week after it ended, downtown business owners told ABC45 that normalcy had returned, while community groups pushed for recreation centers and safe spaces instead.

The lesson from both: curfews are blunt tools. They can calm a flashpoint, but they don’t fix the underlying complaint. In France, the underlying complaint is the cost of living, and the protests are expected to continue.

Who Should Use This Information

If you live in or are traveling to a French city, use this as a prompt to check your local prefecture daily. Don’t rely on national headlines for hours or boundaries.

If you run a business in an affected area, the practical move is to document damage now, contact your insurer, and watch for the government’s compensation procedures. Commerce Minister Serge Papin convened an emergency meeting with retailers, banks and insurers Monday morning. The FCD is pushing for faster compensation, similar to natural-disaster procedures.

If you’re just following the story, treat the curfew-to-begin announcement as a starting point, not a final answer. The details will come from prefects, city by city, and they will change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has a curfew officially begun in France?

Partial, localized curfews have been ordered by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, but the specific cities and hours were not named at the time of the announcement. Marseille’s prefect issued a gathering ban from noon to 8 p.m. Monday, which is a related but separate measure.

Which cities will have curfews?

That hasn’t been confirmed. Lecornu said details would be provided later Monday. Prefects in each region will set the boundaries. Check your local prefecture’s website for the order covering your area.

Is a state of emergency being declared?

Not yet. Lecornu said a state of emergency could be declared if deemed necessary, but partial curfews seemed more appropriate at this stage. President Macron stopped short of drastic measures in his Sunday address.

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Tech & Gadgets

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines Remake: 5 Fast Facts

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines remake rumor: metal band Genitorturers allegedly confirmed it at a Brooklyn show. Get the facts and what it means for fans.

Published

1 day ago

October 18, 2026

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Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines Remake: 5 Fast Facts

A rumor about a Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines remake started at a Genitorturers concert in Brooklyn. The industrial metal band allegedly told the crowd that a remake of the beloved 2004 RPG is happening. That single sentence, shouted from a stage, has set off a small firestorm among fans who have waited two decades for any sign of a return to the World of Darkness.

The story comes from a Reddit user named Few_Interview8222, who posted on the Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines subreddit after attending a Genitorturers show at The Meadows in Brooklyn on October 15. According to the post, partway through the set the band mentioned the remake. No other corroborating accounts have surfaced yet. PC Gamer has reached out to Activision and to the band’s representation for comment, but as of this writing there’s no official confirmation.

So why would an industrial metal band from Orlando, formed in 1986, have inside information about a cult classic RPG? The connection is real. Bloodlines featured licensed tracks from metal bands, used as diegetic music in the nightclubs and bars of its Los Angeles setting. Genitorturers’ song “Lecher Bitch” was the theme of The Last Round, a downtown LA dive bar frequented by the Anarch faction. That placement gave the band a tangential tie to the game’s fanbase, but it doesn’t make them industry insiders.

What The Rumor Actually Says

The claim is simple: a Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines remake is in development. That’s it. No platform, no release window, no studio name. The lack of detail is exactly why some fans are skeptical. Multiple commenters on the Reddit thread suggested the band might have been referring to last year’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, which is a sequel, not a remake. A concertgoer could have misheard, or the band could have misspoken. It’s the kind of mix-up that happens when an artist has a loose connection to a franchise but isn’t deep in the gaming news cycle.

There’s also the messy reality of who owns what. The rights to Vampire: The Masquerade are split among several parties, and any remake would involve negotiations with multiple stakeholders. A project like that could be started, stopped, shopped around, and restarted again. Someone on the periphery, like a band that once had a song in the original game, might hear outdated information and repeat it as fact.

Why Fans Are Excited Anyway

Bloodlines is one of those games that people never stop talking about. Released in 2004 by Troika Games, it was ambitious, buggy, and unforgettable. It built on the open-ended design of the original Fallout (two of its leads, Leonard Boyarsky and Jason Anderson, were senior talent on Fallout 1) and applied it to a 3D world. The result was a gothic, noir-infused Los Angeles packed with vampires, political intrigue, and memorable characters. It’s often described as a missing link between 2D Fallout and New Vegas.

A remake would face huge challenges. The original’s mood and look were one of a kind, and recreating that without the original team is risky. The recent Shogun 2 remaster and the troubled Deus Ex Remastered show how badly things can go when a classic is handled without care. Many fans argue that only Nightdive Studios, known for its faithful remasters, could do it justice. They also point to Werner “Wesp5” Spahl, the modder behind the unofficial patch that has kept Bloodlines playable for years. A proper remake would ideally build on his work and compensate him.

How To Play Bloodlines Today

If the rumor has you curious, you can play the original right now. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is available on GOG and Steam for around $20, though it goes on sale often. Before you start, install the unofficial patch from Wesp5’s site (linked via PC Gamer’s coverage). The patch fixes countless bugs and restores cut content. The game runs on modern Windows with a few compatibility tweaks, and the community on r/vtmb is active and helpful.

For those who want to follow the rumor, keep an eye on official channels. Activision and the band’s representatives have not commented. Until they do, treat the Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines remake talk as unconfirmed. But even if it turns out to be nothing, the incident is a neat reminder of how a 22-year-old game can still create a stir.

Who Should Care

If you’re a fan of deep RPGs, Bloodlines is essential playing. The rumor is just a bonus. If you’re a skeptic, wait for official word. Either way, the conversation around a Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines remake isn’t going away soon.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines remake actually happening?

It’s unconfirmed. The rumor started when the band Genitorturers allegedly mentioned it at a concert, but neither Activision nor the band’s representatives have commented.

Why would Genitorturers know about a Bloodlines remake?

They have a loose connection: their song ‘Lecher Bitch’ was featured in the original game. That doesn’t mean they have inside information, and they could have been misinformed or misheard.

How can I play the original Bloodlines today?

It’s available on GOG and Steam for about $20. Install the unofficial patch by Wesp5 to fix bugs and restore content.

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Battlefield 6 Skins: 5 Pistols, Secuty Typo, AI Uproar

Battlefield 6 skins spark AI accusations over ‘secuty’ typo and five pistols. See DICE’s response and what it means for you.

Published

1 day ago

October 18, 2026

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Battlefield 6 Skins: 5 Pistols, Secuty Typo, AI Uproar

Battlefield 6 skins are under fire after players spotted a soldier wearing five pistols and a patch that reads ‘secuty’ instead of ‘security.’ The errors have fueled accusations that developer DICE used generative AI to design the cosmetics. Battlefield 6 skins are the latest flashpoint in a growing debate over AI-generated assets in paid games.

What Exactly Is Wrong With The Skins

The most glaring issue is a skin featuring a soldier with a Batman-style mask (minus the ears) and five pistols strapped to his chest. One Reddit poster joked, ‘Because switching to your pistol, secondary pistol, tertiary pistol, quartenary (sic) pistol, and quinary pistol is faster than reloading, soldier!’ The misspelling of ‘quaternary’ in the joke mirrors the actual typo on another skin.

That other skin has a patch that says ‘secuty’ — presumably meant to be ‘security.’ A post on X read, ‘Secuty 😭 It’s AI #Battlefield6.’ Another user wrote, ‘I believe it’s almost impossible to deny anymore that EA/DICE is using AI for the skins in #Battlefield6. At least in the concept phase — and then anything that looks even remotely ‘cool’ just gets rubber-stamped.’

A third skin shows a bomb disposal juggernaut with thick body armor but a completely exposed head. He’s also carrying magazines for small game hunting rifles that don’t exist in Battlefield 6. ‘Fps .22s probably take like 2 full mags to kill someone,’ one X user said. Another joked, ‘Not to mention he’s carrying super finicky mags for a .22 varmint rifle.’

How DICE Responded

IGN has asked EA for comment, but so far there’s been no official statement on the AI accusations. However, Battlefield 6 lead producer David Sirland recently returned from vacation and immediately engaged with the community on X, asking, ‘What irks you with BF6 right now?’ The post drew over half a million views and 2,000 replies in 12 hours. Sirland addressed many issues — maps, recoil, dispersion, and a laser targeting bug — but did not specifically comment on the skin controversy in that thread.

According to PC Gamer, Sirland acknowledged problems with the server browser, hit registration, aim assist, and more, promising fixes in an upcoming patch. The skin issue wasn’t among the topics he addressed.

Why Players Are Crying AI

The errors — a misspelled word, illogical gear placement, and weapons that don’t fit the game’s arsenal — are classic signs of AI-generated content. Generative AI often produces text that looks right at a glance but contains subtle mistakes, and it can combine elements in ways that don’t make sense. In a paid cosmetic item, those mistakes feel like a rip-off.

AI is perhaps the hottest topic in the video game industry right now. Fortnite developer Epic Games has gone all-in on generative AI, and scrutiny is intense. When assets contain clear errors, especially ones you pay for, players are quick to suspect AI. As IGN notes, ‘fans aren’t giving DICE the benefit of the doubt.’

It’s possible these issues are the result of human error. But given the current climate, that benefit of the doubt is in short supply.

What This Means For Battlefield 6 Players

If you’re playing Battlefield 6, you’ve likely already encountered other issues. Cheating has been a problem since the beta, with aimbots and wallhacks appearing despite EA’s Javelin anti-cheat and Secure Boot requirement. Polygon reported that EA banned a player shown cheating in a viral video, but cheat sellers continue to operate.

On the gameplay side, a secret sniper nerf makes sniper rifles randomly miss unless you’re playing the Recon class, according to streamer Stodeh. That’s on top of bloom and dispersion issues that Sirland says will be addressed in the next major patch.

The skin controversy adds to a sense that Battlefield 6 launched with rough edges. For a game that costs money — and sells cosmetic items on top — players expect polish. Spelling errors on paid skins undermine that expectation.

How To Evaluate Skins Before You Buy

If you’re considering buying Battlefield 6 skins, here’s a practical approach:

1. Zoom in on the preview. Check for text, patches, and gear placement. If something looks off, it probably is.

2. Look for consistency with the game’s world. Magazines for weapons that don’t exist in the game are a red flag.

3. Wait for community reviews. Reddit and X are quick to spot errors. A day or two after release, you’ll know if a skin has issues.

4. Consider the value. If a skin has obvious flaws, don’t reward the practice with your money.

DICE hasn’t confirmed whether AI was used, so features weren’t fully confirmed. But the evidence players have gathered is compelling enough to warrant caution.

Alternatives To Paid Skins

If you’re uneasy about the quality of Battlefield 6 skins, you can simply not buy them. The game includes base cosmetics, and you can earn some through gameplay. Alternatively, other shooters like Call of Duty and Fortnite offer extensive cosmetic systems — though Fortnite’s use of AI has also been a topic of debate.

For now, Battlefield 6 skins remain a sore spot. The community’s reaction shows that players are paying attention to detail. If DICE wants to rebuild trust, it needs to address the errors directly — and explain how they happened.

Who Should Buy Battlefield 6 Skins

If you’re a die-hard Battlefield fan who values self-expression in-game and you’re willing to overlook occasional flaws, you might still find skins you like. But if you expect flawless, hand-crafted art for your money, you should hold off until DICE cleans up its act. The ‘secuty’ patch is a small typo with a big message: even virtual gear deserves a proofread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did DICE use AI to create Battlefield 6 skins?

DICE has not confirmed whether AI was used. Fans suspect it due to spelling errors like ‘secuty’ and illogical gear placement, but it could also be human error.