New Delhi, August 17: Meta has reportedly closed CrowdTangle, a tool used by researchers and journalists to monitor the spread of misinformation on social media. As per reports, the European Commission is now questioning Meta about the discontinuation of CrowdTangle, emphasising the need for transparency and compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA). It comes amid concerns that the new tools introduced by Meta may not meet the same standards. The EU's inquiry reportedly highlights the importance of tools like CrowdTangle in allowing researchers to access valuable data.

As per a report of Euro News, Meta is urged to answer EU questions on CrowdTangle shutdown. The Commission has asked Meta to provide detailed information on its new tools, including the Content Library and API. These tools are intended to replace CrowdTangle, but researchers and civil society groups have reportedly criticised them for being insufficient. The Commission has also opened formal proceedings against Meta regarding the availability of effective tools for third-party monitoring ahead of the EU elections. Meta Introduces AI Across WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and Messenger in India; Check Details.

CrowdTangle, established in 2011 and acquired by Facebook in 2016, became an essential tool for media outlets and researchers. It allowed users to download datasets using keywords and was useful to analyse trends across social media platforms, as per a report of Times Now. WhatsApp New Update: Meta-Owned Platform Introduces GIPHY Stickers and Options To Create Custom Stickers Using Meta AI.

Meta reportedly announced last year that it would discontinue CrowdTangle and replace it with the Content Library and API, claiming these new tools are more comprehensive. However, experts fear the new tools may not offer the same capabilities, especially with the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. As per reports, the Content Library provides access to more publicly available content, but it has limitations in exporting data and analysing it with external tools. Additionally, it restricts access to posts from public figures without a large following, which could hinder research efforts.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2024 07:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).