German Court Orders X to Share Election Data

The Berlin Regional Court has mandated Elon Musk's social media platform, X, to provide two German non-profit organizations, the Society for Civil Rights (GFF) and Democracy Reporting International (DRI), access to public data for research on misinformation before Germany's February 23rd national election. This decision is based on the EU's Digital Services Act which requires large platforms to offer data access for research on systemic risks in social media. The lawsuit claimed X had failed to comply, hindering efforts to track election-swaying information. The ruling is significant for academic freedom and democracy, as it ensures transparency and combats election manipulation. The court's decision highlights concerns over misinformation, especially given Musk's endorsement of Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).