Meta removes language that raised scraping and AI training concerns

techcrunch.com Oct 17, 2026

Meta removes language that raised scraping and AI training concerns

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Oct 17, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Meta has revised its commercial terms of use, initially stating that it 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 and services. Legal analysts described the clause as a sweeping right to scrape publisher sites and feed the material into Meta’s artificial‑intelligence training pipelines. The language sparked concern after the company’s recent victory in a copyright lawsuit and amid ongoing litigation targeting AI firms. Meta later issued a statement saying the provision applied only to its advertising and business tools and did not alter its web‑crawling practices. Following criticism, the company removed the wording from the terms, as reported by The Verge.

💡 Why It Matters

· The rollback signals Meta’s attempt to quell publisher backlash and avoid further legal challenges over AI data harvesting.

Capsules Meta

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Meta says it has fixed an issue that let its Ray-Ban smart…

Meta announced a fix for its Ray‑Ban Meta smart glasses, which were unexpectedly recording audio without user prompts. Users reported that the glasses triggered Meta AI and began voice recording even when the “Hey Meta” wake word was not spoken or enabled. The devices still alert users with an LED light, but the unprompted recordings raised privacy concerns. Meta confirmed the issue is resolved and released an update that disables the camera if the LED privacy light is tampered with. Users can now manage, review, and delete voice logs in settings.

💡 The glitch exposed a critical vulnerability in consumer wearable privacy controls, prompting scrutiny of Meta’s data handling practices. Fixing it restores user trust and sets a precedent for stricter oversight of smart device recording features.

9to5google.com · Oct 15

You can now join a WhatsApp call without an account

WhatsApp announced a new feature that lets anyone join a voice or video call without a WhatsApp account. Users create a call link in the Calls tab, share it, and recipients open the URL in a web browser, enter a name and request to join. The host admits them, and the call supports up to 32 participants, preserving end‑to‑end encryption and core tools such as hand‑raising and screen sharing. Only account holders can generate links, but guests enjoy the same free, unlimited‑duration experience as regular users. WhatsApp says the links will soon integrate with Google Calendar and Outlook via a plugin, streamlining scheduling for work, school and personal meetings. The rollout was detailed in a blog post today globally now.

💡 It removes the platform barrier, letting non‑users tap into WhatsApp’s encrypted calling ecosystem with a single click.

techcrunch.com · Oct 14

Facebook is giving users more control over their algorithm

Meta unveiled “Your Algorithm,” an AI‑powered tool that lets Facebook users dictate the content appearing in their Feed and Reels through natural‑language preferences. Launched after a similar feature on Instagram, the tool replaces purely automated recommendations with user‑directed input, allowing real‑time adjustments. Meta added a new three‑dot menu option for easy access, letting users mark posts as “Interested” or “Not interested” and provide detailed feedback. The feature aims to make recommendations more relevant and mirrors streaming‑style personalization.

💡 By granting users direct influence over algorithmic curation, Meta shifts from opaque recommendation models to a more transparent, user‑driven experience, potentially redefining how social platforms balance engagement with user agency.

techcrunch.com · Oct 12

Meta releases its first frontier model, Muse Wonder

Meta’s Superintelligence Lab unveiled two new frontier models, Muse Wonder and Muse Wonder Full, marking the company’s first release of large‑scale AI systems. Unlike the earlier lightweight Muse Spark, the Wonder models are designed for higher capability, achieving benchmark scores comparable to Fable 5.1 and GPT‑6 Astra and outperforming rivals on the MemoryBench continual‑learning test. Meta emphasizes “active memory,” claiming the models can retain user information over extended periods. Access is provided via the Meta Model API at $4 per million input tokens and $20 per million output tokens, a price point similar to GPT‑6 Sol and Opus 5.5. Trained at the Prometheus data center in Ohio, the launch follows a 2023 restructuring of Meta’s AI division and follows the release of Muse Spark and Muse Agent.

💡 By delivering a model that combines high performance with long‑term memory, Meta aims to differentiate its AI offerings for personal assistants, challenging the dominance of OpenAI and Anthropic in the frontier‑model space.

us.headtopics.com · Oct 11

Nobody Is Ready for the AI-Agent Flood

Meta’s newly released AI assistant, Muse, has begun making unsolicited phone calls to small businesses across the United States, posing as customers and requesting services such as bidet installations, karaoke bookings, and cake orders. The calls, which disclose that they are being transcribed, often prompt businesses to either comply or question the caller’s identity. Some recipients suspect a hybrid human‑AI handoff, but the experience has highlighted a shift in customer interaction dynamics. The phenomenon underscores the growing penetration of AI agents in everyday commerce and the challenges they pose to traditional service models.

💡 The rise of AI‑driven cold calls threatens to erode the personal touch that small‑business owners rely on for customer engagement, potentially reshaping how services are marketed and delivered.

ncnonline.net · Oct 11

Global AI glasses shipments more than doubled in 1H26, hitting a record…

Global shipments of AI glasses surged to 4.2 million units in the first half of 2026, a 127 % year‑on‑year increase, according to Omdia. Meta dominated the market, delivering 3.4 million units and capturing 81.3 % of the share. Emerging competitors, notably Realities, climbed to second place with 102,000 units, driven by its G2 series in North America and Western Europe. China’s shipments jumped 306 % YoY, reflecting intense experimentation with new hardware designs. The sector faces growing competition and heightened privacy scrutiny.

💡 The rapid expansion signals that AI‑enabled eyewear is moving beyond niche to mainstream adoption, reshaping consumer expectations for hands‑free media capture and contextual assistance.