Imagine trying to safeguard democracy while blindfolded. This is the challenge we face as X,a digital giant,blocks our access to vital electoral data. It wasn’t a loud refusal,nor an outright denial,but the quiet,creeping delays from X have set our work back in a profound way. Our mission is to protect and promote democracy in the digital age. When powerful platforms like X fail to comply with regulations designed to ensure transparency and accountability,it becomes our duty to act. At DRI,we’ve come to understand that democracy can be sabotaged not only by misinformation,but by the strategic withholding of information.
This is the story of our fight to ensure that transparency,not secrecy,defines Europe’s electoral future.
In April 2024,our organisation,DRI,filed a request under Article 40(12) of the Digital Services Act (DSA). This provision mandates that very large online platforms (VLOPs) like X grant researchers access to publicly available data. Our goal was clear: to monitor systemic risks to the European Union’s electoral processes,including the upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections,the 2024 Austrian elections,and the 2025 German Parliamentary elections. This monitoring is a critical part of our project,access://democracy,funded by the Mercator Foundation.
DRI also applied to Meta’s Content Library API with the same project and was granted access; proof that we meet the legal requirements.
What began as a straightforward request quickly tued into a prolonged and frustrating ordeal. After submitting our application on April 17,we received responses from X on May 20 and June 17. Instead of the data access we needed,we were met with a series of redundant questions – queries that had already been addressed in our initial submission. It wasn’t until July 5,nearly three months later,that X finally deemed our application “complete” and ready for review.
As of August 14,four months after our initial request,we still had not received access to the data. The lack of timely access has severely hindered our project,making it impossible to conduct the systematic research necessary to safeguard democratic processes in the EU.
X’s actions represent a blatant violation of Article 40(12) of the DSA. This regulation exists to ensure that platforms like X cannot hide behind delays and bureaucratic red tape to avoid scrutiny. By dragging out the process and erecting unnecessary barriers,X has not only violated the law but also jeopardised the transparency and accountability that are essential to democratic oversight.
In response to X’s non-compliance,DRI has now filed a formal complaint with the Bundesnetzagentur,Germany’s Digital Services Coordinator (DSC). We are calling on the DSC to:
- Acknowledge that X is in violation of Article 40(12) of the DSA.
- Mandate that X immediately provides DRI with the required data access.
This complaint is more than just a legal challenge. By holding X accountable,we aim to ensure that digital platforms cannot operate without transparency,especially when their actions impact democratic processes.
Our fight against X is far from over but we are committed to seeing it through,not just for the sake of our research but for the integrity of democracy itself. We invite you to follow our jouey,support our cause,and join us in demanding that digital giants respect the laws that protect our democratic institutions!