A Berlin court recently mandated that X Corp., owned by Elon Musk, provide immediate access to its public platform data. This order aims to assist two civil society organizations in examining systemic risks related to Germany’s upcoming elections.
The organizations involved, Democracy Reporting International and the German Society for Civil Rights (GFF), intend to investigate the influence of social media on the electoral process, particularly focusing on potential manipulations on X.
In response to the ruling, X announced it is challenging the court’s order, asserting that the summary proceeding infringes on its fundamental right to due process. The company also expressed concerns about the implications for user privacy and free speech.
This legal challenge is rooted in the European Union’s Digital Services Act, which mandates larger platforms like X to facilitate public interest research into systemic risks. The outcome of this appeal could significantly impact the ability to study public discourse on the platform as the election date approaches on February 23.
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