Researchers win a legal battle against the platform formerly known as Twitter, securing crucial access to social media data to probe potential election interference.

Summary

A German court ruled that Elon Musk’s X must immediately provide researchers with data on politically related content ahead of Germany’s Feb. 23 election.

The lawsuit, filed by Democracy Reporting International and the Society for Civil Rights, accused X of blocking efforts to track election interference.

The ruling enforces the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), requiring major platforms to grant researcher access. It also orders X to pay legal costs and imposes a €6,000 procedural fine.

The decision sets a legal precedent, but it remains unclear if X will appeal.

  • barsoap@lemm.eeEnglish
    3·
    5 hours ago

    Can’t find any proper information anywhere (someone link me the judgement) but that sounds like “you were supposed to file stuff in triplicate now we have to copy shit, here’s a fine” territory.

    Here’s the press release of DRI itself, they don’t even mention it.