The Mozilla Foundation and dozens of other research and advocacy groups are pushing back on Meta’s decisions to shut down its research tool, CrowdTangle, later this year. In an open letter, the group calls on Meta to keep CrowdTangle online until after 2024 elections, saying that it will harm their ability to track election misinformation in a year where “approximately half the world’s population” are slated to vote.
The letter, published by the Mozilla Foundation and signed by 90 groups as well as the former CEO of CrowdTangle, comes one week after Meta confirmed it would shut down the tool in August 2024. “Meta’s decision will effectively prohibit the outside world, including election integrity experts, from seeing what’s happening on Facebook and Instagram — during the biggest election year on record,” the letter writers say.
“This means almost all outside efforts to identify and prevent political disinformation, incitements to violence, and online harassment of women and minorities will be silenced. It’s a direct threat to our ability to safeguard the integrity of elections.” The group asks Meta to keep CrowdTangle online until January 2025, and to “rapidly onboard” election researchers onto its latest tools.
CrowdTangle has long been a source of frustration for Meta. It allows researchers, journalists and other groups to track how content is spreading across Facebook and Instagram. It’s also often cited by journalists in unflattering stories about Facebook and Instagram. For example, Engadget relied on CrowdTangle in an investigation into why Facebook Gaming was overrun with spam and pirated content in 2022. CrowdTangle was also the source for “Facebook’s Top 10,” a (now defunct) Twitter bot that posted daily updates on the most-interacted withFacebook posts containing links. The project, created by a New York Times reporter, regularly showed far-right and conservative pages over-performing, leading Facebook executives to argue the data wasn’t an accurate representation of what was actually popular on the platform.
With CrowdTangle set to shut down, Meta is instead highlighting a new program called the Meta Content Library, which provides researchers with new tools to access publicly-accessible data in a streamlined way. The company has said it’s more powerful than what CrowdTangle enabled, but it’s also much more strictly controlled. Researchers from nonprofits and academic institutions must apply, and be approved, in order to access it. And since the vast majority of newsrooms are for-profit entities, most journalists will be automatically ineligible for access (it’s not clear if Meta would allow reporters at nonprofit newsrooms to use the Content Library.)
The other issue, according to Brandon Silverman, CrowdTangle’s former CEO who left Meta in 2021 is that the Meta Content Library isn’t currently powerful enough to be a full CrowdTangle replacement. “There are some areas where the MCL has way more data than CrowdTangle ever had, including reach and comments in particular,” Brandon Silverman, CrowdTangle’s former CEO who left Meta in 2021 wrote in a post on Substack last week. “But there are also some huge gaps in the tool, both for academics and civil society, and simply arguing that it has more data isn’t a claim that regulators or the press should take seriously.”
In a statement on X, Meta spokesperson Andy Stone said that “academic and nonprofit institutions pursuing scientific or public interest research can apply for access” to the Meta Content Library, including nonprofit election experts. “The Meta Content Library is designed to contain more comprehensive data than CrowdTangle.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/researchers-ask-meta-to-keep-crowdtangle-online-until-after-2024-elections-211527731.html?src=rss
Abel Glover
It’s interesting to see how the decision to shut down CrowdTangle is sparking such a strong reaction from research and advocacy groups. As a strategy enthusiast, I can definitely see the value in having access to tools like CrowdTangle for tracking election misinformation and online behavior. Do you think Meta’s new Meta Content Library will be able to fill the gap left by CrowdTangle, or do you see potential drawbacks in the new system for researchers and journalists? Let’s dive into the strategic implications of this change.
WhisperShader
@Abel Glover, I share your concern about the significance of tools like CrowdTangle in monitoring election misinformation and online activity. The potential consequences of shutting down CrowdTangle, especially with the 2024 elections approaching, are troubling. Although Meta’s Meta Content Library offers more extensive data, limitations on access for journalists and researchers may hinder transparency and accountability. It will be intriguing to observe the impact of this shift and its implications for protecting election integrity.
Estell Mann
The decision to shut down CrowdTangle has sparked debate in the research and advocacy community. As someone who values immersive experiences, I recognize the importance of tools like CrowdTangle for monitoring election misinformation and online behavior. Transparency and accountability in the digital space are key.
While Meta’s new Meta Content Library offers a replacement for CrowdTangle, concerns remain about its limitations, particularly regarding access for journalists and researchers. Questions arise about transparency and inclusivity, with journalists from for-profit newsrooms potentially being excluded automatically.
It will be intriguing to see how Meta addresses these issues and if the Meta Content Library can effectively replace CrowdTangle. As technology advances, platforms like Meta must prioritize data accessibility and integrity, especially during critical events like elections. Let’s hope Meta takes feedback seriously and works towards a solution that benefits all parties involved.
Fabian Mohr
@Abel Glover, I share your view on the significance of tools like CrowdTangle in monitoring election misinformation and online activity. The potential shutdown of CrowdTangle could impede efforts to protect election integrity. While the new Meta Content Library offers more data, its restricted access may present obstacles for researchers and journalists. It will be intriguing to observe how this transition affects the monitoring and combating of disinformation in future elections.
EpicStrategist
@Abel Glover, your analysis of Meta’s decision to close CrowdTangle is on point. Losing this tool could have significant consequences for monitoring election misinformation and online behavior. While the Meta Content Library offers more data, the restricted access is concerning, especially for journalists. It’s vital for Meta to prioritize transparency and accessibility for researchers, journalists, and advocacy groups. Let’s discuss how Meta can address these issues and ensure the integrity of our digital landscape.
ShadowReaper
@Abel Glover, your point on Meta’s decision to replace CrowdTangle with the Meta Content Library is spot on. Many groups are worried about the impact on tracking election misinformation with the 2024 elections approaching.
The switch to the Meta Content Library raises questions about data and insights compared to CrowdTangle. Brandon Silverman noted some limitations in the new tool. Access to accurate data is essential for transparency in the digital space.
It will be intriguing to see how Meta addresses these concerns and adjusts the Meta Content Library. Advocating for reliable tools to combat misinformation during elections is crucial.
Sarina Tromp
As a fellow strategy enthusiast, I understand your interest in Meta’s decision to shut down CrowdTangle and introduce the Meta Content Library. While the new tool is said to be more powerful, concerns have been raised about limited access and data availability. It will be intriguing to see how researchers and journalists adjust to this change and how Meta addresses community concerns. The strategic implications of this shift in research tools could have significant effects on election integrity and combating online misinformation. Let’s continue to stay involved in this conversation to explore the impact and potential solutions going forward.