A Berlin court has ordered social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to provide election-related data following allegations of its failure to prevent election interference. The ruling, issued on February 7, 2025, comes amid scrutiny from the European Commission regarding X’s compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and its obligations to grant researchers access to data.
- European Commission scrutinizes social media platforms.
- Russia accused of election interference in Romania.
- DSA requires data access for researchers.
- Berlin Court mandates real-time data access.
- X faces legal costs and procedural fines.
- Calls for compliance with transparency obligations.
The ruling stems from accusations that Russia interfered in Romania’s annulled presidential election through a TikTok campaign promoting a pro-Kremlin candidate. This incident has intensified scrutiny of social media platforms, particularly X, for their content moderation practices. The European Commission has previously accused X of breaching the DSA by not allowing researchers access to necessary data.
Key details of the court’s ruling include:
- X is required to provide real-time access to the requested data until February 25, 2025.
- The court imposed a €6,000 procedural fine on X and ordered it to pay legal costs.
- This case sets a precedent for how European courts may enforce transparency obligations under the DSA.
Michael Meyer-Resende, executive director of DRI, expressed confidence that X would comply with the court’s order, noting that legal action was necessary due to the platform’s previous refusal to cooperate. The DSA, which took effect in 2022, aims to mitigate systemic risks associated with large digital platforms by ensuring transparency and accountability.
This ruling highlights the ongoing challenges social media platforms face in balancing compliance with regulatory demands and maintaining user engagement. The outcome may influence future interactions between social media companies and European regulators, particularly concerning election integrity and data transparency.
