Amidst growing discontent among academic researchers, X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, continues to face criticism for its refusal to grant access to its API, hindering studies on social media and misinformation. Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform in October 2022, a pivotal shift occurred in March 2023 when X discontinued free access to Twitter’s API, replacing it with a paid regime starting at a staggering $42,000 a month, effectively excluding most academics.
In response to regulatory requirements outlined by the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and mounting complaints from researchers, X purportedly reinstated access to its API. However, reports suggest that the platform has been selective in granting such requests, creating an information vacuum for researchers. Even with the introduction of Article 40.12 in the DSA, mandating significant platforms to provide convenient API access for research purposes, academics like Steve Rathje and Philipp Lorenz-Spreen faced rejection without clear explanations.
The frustration among researchers is evident as they share their experiences on social media, highlighting the apparent inconsistency and lack of transparency in X’s decision-making process. The rejection emails received by applicants often cite failure to meet the DSA’s requirements, leaving researchers perplexed and dissatisfied. Notably, an ongoing investigation by the European Commission into X’s potential breaches of the DSA, including the denial of API access, adds another layer of scrutiny to the platform’s policies.
Academics like Swapneel Mehta, who had previously contributed to Twitter’s content integrity efforts, express bewilderment at the counterintuitive move to block data access for researchers supporting the platform’s initiatives. The intricate landscape of the newly implemented DSA leaves room for interpretation, contributing to the uncertainty surrounding the enforcement of regulations in this evolving digital era. As the investigation unfolds, the academic community awaits clarity on the future of data access for crucial research in understanding and mitigating the systemic risks associated with social media platforms.