In the lead-up to Romania’s presidential election in November 2024, TikTok accounts that had previously focused on lifestyle content began promoting Calin Georgescu, a politician with controversial views. His posts garnered 120 million views, contributing to his unexpected success in the election’s first round. This situation has drawn attention from researchers like Adriana Iamnitchi, who are investigating the monetization of political content on TikTok.
Research Access Denied
Iamnitchi, chair of computational social sciences at Maastricht University, sought access to TikTok’s Application Programming Interface (API) under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). However, her request was denied, with TikTok citing insufficient proof of her status as an established researcher and concerns over security requirements. This denial came despite TikTok’s later actions against a network of fake accounts promoting Georgescu.
Challenges for Misinformation Researchers
Researchers have reported facing significant obstacles in obtaining platform data, despite being legally entitled to it under EU law. The DSA aims to facilitate access for vetted researchers to study systemic risks associated with social media, but implementation issues persist. Many researchers find themselves navigating complex application processes and stringent security requirements that hinder their ability to conduct thorough investigations.
Barriers to Data Access
Social media companies have increasingly restricted access to data. For instance, Meta’s CrowdTangle was replaced with a content library that researchers claim is less comprehensive. TikTok has also imposed limits on the number of posts researchers can analyze daily, complicating large-scale studies. The DSA was intended to improve this situation, but researchers report that the reality often falls short of the law’s promises.
Legal and Regulatory Implications
Recent legal battles highlight the challenges researchers face in securing data access. For example, Democracy Reporting International (DRI) sued X (formerly Twitter) after a request for API access was denied. A court ruled in favor of DRI, but the ongoing legal complexities reflect broader issues with the application of EU law. In December 2025, the European Commission fined X €120 million for creating barriers to researcher access, indicating a growing regulatory focus on transparency and accountability in social media.
As the EU continues to refine its approach to researcher access, there is cautious optimism among academics. New provisions may enhance access to nonpublic data, potentially allowing for more comprehensive studies of disinformation networks. However, the effectiveness of these changes remains to be seen.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
