European researchers want to study social media’s harms but can’t get the data

**EU Law Falls Short: Big Tech Companies Still Refuse to Share Data with Researchers**

European researchers are facing a daunting obstacle in their quest to study the harms of social media: they can't get access to the data they need to conduct their research. Despite the EU's groundbreaking Digital Services Act, which grants unprecedented rights to scrutinize Big Tech companies, TikTok, X, and Meta are still deciding who gets to look inside their systems.

Background & Context

The Digital Services Act, passed in 2022, is a landmark piece of legislation that aims to regulate the online activities of Big Tech companies. One of its key provisions is the requirement for companies to provide researchers with access to data, a move that has been hailed as a major victory for transparency and accountability. However, as researchers are discovering, this provision is easier said than done.

For years, researchers have been sounding the alarm about the potential harms of social media, from the spread of misinformation and hate speech to the impact on mental health and democracy. But without access to the data they need to conduct their research, they are left with a major obstacle in their quest to understand the problem. As one researcher put it, "It's like trying to study a black box – we can't see inside, and we can't understand how it works."

Key Details

The issue is not just limited to a few companies – all three of the major social media platforms, TikTok, X, and Meta, are still refusing to share data with researchers. While they claim to be committed to transparency, their actions suggest otherwise. For example, in 2022, Meta was forced to disclose that it had been storing the passwords of millions of users in plaintext – a major security vulnerability that could have been avoided if researchers had access to the data. Similarly, TikTok has been accused of spreading misinformation and hate speech, but without access to its data, researchers can't say for certain how widespread the problem is.

The lack of data access is not just a problem for researchers – it's also a major obstacle for policymakers. As one EU official put it, "We can't make informed decisions about how to regulate these companies if we don't have access to the data we need. It's like trying to navigate a ship without a map – we're flying blind."

What Experts Say

The situation is not unique to the EU – researchers around the world are facing similar obstacles when trying to study the harms of social media. As one expert noted, "This is a global problem – Big Tech companies are operating in a global market, and they need to be held to the same standards everywhere. If we can't get access to their data, we'll never be able to understand the full scope of the problem."

The issue is not just about the data itself, but also about the lack of transparency and accountability that it represents. As one researcher put it, "When companies are not transparent about their data, it's like they're hiding something. And if they're hiding something, it's likely because they're trying to avoid accountability."

Key Takeaways

• The Digital Services Act, passed in 2022, grants unprecedented rights to scrutinize Big Tech companies, but researchers are still facing obstacles in getting access to the data they need.
• TikTok, X, and Meta are still refusing to share data with researchers, despite claims of commitment to transparency.
• The lack of data access is not just a problem for researchers – it's also a major obstacle for policymakers who need access to data to make informed decisions about how to regulate Big Tech companies.
• The issue is not unique to the EU – researchers around the world are facing similar obstacles when trying to study the harms of social media.

What This Means For You

So what does this mean for you? For one, it means that the social media companies you use every day are not being held to the same standards as other companies. It means that they are not being transparent about their data, and it means that they are not being held accountable for their actions. But it also means that there are people working to change this – researchers, policymakers, and activists who are fighting for transparency and accountability in the tech industry.

So what can you do? For one, you can demand more from the social media companies you use. You can ask them to be more transparent about their data, and you can ask them to be more accountable for their actions. You can also support researchers and policymakers who are fighting for transparency and accountability in the tech industry. Together, we can make a difference and create a more transparent and accountable tech industry.

As one researcher put it, "This is a fight for the future of the internet – and it's a fight that we can't afford to lose."