# Meta-ExternalAgent

Bot · Crawlers · Trains AI models · operated by meta

**Identity:** Signs its requests (Web Bot Auth).

## How to recognise it

- Signed requests: `Signature-Agent` from `www.meta.com`, keys at `https://www.meta.com/.well-known/http-message-signatures-directory`
- User agent contains `meta-externalagent`, `FacebookBot`

## Allow or block

To opt out, add to robots.txt:

```robots
User-agent: meta-externalagent
Disallow: /
```

## With Double Agent

Sessions from Meta-ExternalAgent are labelled `bot` with `agent_id: meta.externalagent`, and tagged in your analytics. Nothing is blocked unless you choose to. Install: https://doubleagent.so/install.md

Source: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/sharing/webmasters/web-crawlers · Operator docs: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/sharing/webmasters/web-crawlers