Scientists call for open access to X’s data for academic research

Researchers are calling for free access to social media platform X’s data for academic analyses, insights from which can help understand trends in political engagement. Efforts of a research group from Saarland University, Germany, were halted abruptly when X’s owner Elon Musk blocked free access to X’s data for academic research purposes in June 2023. The US-based entrepreneur acquired the platform, then known as Twitter, in October 2022.