European Researchers Face Challenges Accessing Social Media Data for Studies
European researchers are encountering significant obstacles in accessing social media data, despite EU laws granting them rights to scrutinize such data. Platforms like TikTok, X, and Meta are reportedly impeding researchers' efforts to study the impact of social media on society. This issue came to light during Romania's presidential election in 2024, where TikTok accounts shifted from lifestyle content to promoting a politician with controversial views. Researchers, led by Adriana Iamnitchi from Maastricht University, sought access to TikTok's data to investigate these disinformation campaigns but were denied, citing unmet security and research criteria. 
