Meta Shuts Down CrowdTangle, Reducing Transparency Ahead of US Elections

Meta Platforms has shut down CrowdTangle, a tool used by researchers and journalists to monitor social media posts and track misinformation. This move, announced earlier this year, has faced backlash from various groups concerned about its impact on transparency and election oversight. Meta is offering an alternative, Meta Content Library, but access is limited, and it is not as effective yet.

Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has officially shut down its tool CrowdTangle. This tool was widely used by researchers, watchdog organizations, and journalists for tracking social media posts and monitoring the spread of misinformation.

Wednesday's shutdown, announced earlier in the year, sparked widespread protest from researchers and nonprofits. Organizations like the Center for Democracy and Technology and Human Rights Watch argued that the move compromises pre- and post-election oversight and undermines transparency at a critical time.

In an effort to replace CrowdTangle, Meta has introduced the Meta Content Library. However, access is currently restricted to academic researchers and nonprofits, sparking criticism about its limited utility compared to CrowdTangle. Meta's president of global affairs, Nick Clegg, stated the company is working on improving the tool based on feedback from hundreds of researchers.

(With inputs from agencies.)