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Meta plans to discontinue key disinformation tracking tool before significant US elections
In an unexpected decision that could have serious repercussions on the US elections forthcoming this year, Meta has stated that they plan to cease operations of CrowdTangle, a widely used social media surveillance and transparency tool that assisted researchers in monitoring online misinformation and hate speech.
Recently, Meta, the company that owns Facebook, declared plans to shut down CrowdTangle, a widely-used tool for tracking and examining social media. The decision, set to be implemented on August 14, 2024, has stirred up considerable discussion among journalists, researchers, and civic institutions, especially in light of the impending US presidential race.
CrowdTangle has been crucial in assisting journalists and researchers in monitoring the spread of incorrect and misleading information across various social media sites. Its forthcoming closure has sparked worries about the potential effects on attempts to keep tech firms responsible for their part in proliferating false data.
Meta declares its plan to substitute CrowdTangle with a fresh Content Library API. Still, this change will require researchers and nonprofit organizations to seek permission for access to the company's data.
The Mozilla Foundation and numerous other civic groups have criticized the new service, stating that it falls short of many of CrowdTangle's key features. They have encouraged Meta to keep the original tool in operation until January 2025.
Andy Stone, a representative for Meta, defended their choice amidst the criticism. He stated that the Content Library would offer more thorough data than CrowdTangle, and it would be available for use by nonprofits, scholars, and specialists in election authenticity.
Brandon Silverman, co-creator and previous head of CrowdTangle, maintained his involvement with the tool after Facebook bought it in 2016. According to a Wired report, he stressed the importance of platforms allowing external examination of their data. He underscored that it's vital for lawmakers and public representatives to set legal standards for openness and data availability on these platforms.
Silverman pointed out the European Union's Digital Services Act that enforces transparency rules regarding data sharing. He mentioned an emerging pattern among several platforms such as Alibaba and TikTok, which provide programs that allow external researchers to access public content in real-time.
Silverman recognized the difficulties in enforcing these actions, pointing to Twitter's strict data access rules and Meta's cutback in data sharing projects. He underlined the need for a middle ground between access to data and safeguarding privacy, advocating for more widespread public involvement and discussion on the matter.
As Meta gets ready to phase out CrowdTangle, there are ongoing worries about the possible impacts on openness and responsibility in the online world, especially before major political occurrences like the US presidential election. This choice highlights larger discussions about the duties of technology firms and the requirement for regulatory oversight to protect democratic procedures in the digital era.
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