Meta has decided to discontinue its CrowdTangle tool, a widely utilized platform for tracking misinformation and other online content trends. The decision has sparked extensive criticism from academics, politicians, and regulators, especially with the U.S. elections fast approaching. Meta's announcement in March to shut down CrowdTangle by August 14 and has now fulfilled that plan.
CrowdTangle's Impact on Research
Since Facebook acquired CrowdTangle in 2016, it has become an essential tool for researchers and journalists. The platform has enabled the identification of false information, hate speech, and election interference on Facebook and Instagram. It has been particularly useful for understanding how harmful content spreads and for ensuring security during election periods.
Brandi Geurkink, head of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, emphasized CrowdTangle's unique contribution to civil society's efforts to monitor harmful content. The tool has played a pivotal role in scrutinizing the dissemination of violence, political disinformation, and fake news on social media.
Introduction of Meta Content Library
Meta proposes replacing CrowdTangle with the Meta Content Library (MCL) and Content Library API, which aim to offer broad access to public content archives on Facebook and Instagram. However, academics have raised doubts about the efficacy of this new system. The European Commission is also probing the decision and questioning Meta's planned CrowdTangle replacement.
Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, referred to the Content Library as a sincere attempt to support independent research. Despite this, many from the research community believe the new tool lacks the transparency and accessibility that CrowdTangle provided.
Issues with Meta Content Library
While the Meta Content Library is intended as a successor to CrowdTangle, it has faced criticism for limited accessibility. Researchers need to apply and pass a vetting process to access the data, and only a few hundred have reportedly been approved. Journalists are excluded unless affiliated with nonprofit newsrooms or partnered with academic institutions.
Brandon Silverman, former CEO of CrowdTangle, has voiced concerns about the new Meta Content Library, particularly its effectiveness in curbing false information amplified by artificial intelligence. However, organizations in Meta's third-party fact-checking network, including AFP, will retain access to the Content Library.
Last month, US politicians asked Meta to delay the closure of CrowdTangle until after this year's Presidential Elections. A group of bipartisan members of Congress urged Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to postpone the planned shutdown of CrowdTangle by half a year, emphasizing the necessity for transparency ahead of the 2024 election.
