EU LAW GIVES RESEARCHERS DATA ACCESS, BUT BIG TECH BLOCKS THEM

The Digital Services Act grants EU researchers unprecedented authority to examine how major social networks operate and their potential harms. Yet implementation remains stalled, with tech companies acting as gatekeepers over data access. Researchers need internal platform data to study issues like algorithmic bias, misinformation spread, and youth mental health impacts. Without it, independent scrutiny of Big Tech's practices becomes impossible. TikTok, X, and Meta have not denied researchers access outright, but rather control the process through unclear criteria and selective approval. This discretionary approach undermines the law's intent to create transparency and accountability. The standoff highlights a gap between regulatory ambition and enforcement. While the EU established research rights on paper, it lacks mechanisms to compel compliance when companies drag their feet. Researchers and regulators now face pressure to clarify the rules and establish timelines for data provision, or risk the law becoming symbolic rather than substantive.