vrbuckley
commented
1 month ago Suggest possible update to - Researchers can access these data in the following ways: 1) Direct cooperation with the companies/platforms, 2) Buying from data resellers, 3) Via APIs (one might add web scraping to the list but most platforms/companies disencourage its use), 4) Via repositories and archives - data from Very large online platforms (VLOPs) can be accessed via national data coordination centres e.g. GESIS [https://data.gesis.org/tweetskb/]. The Digital Services Act [https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act_en] which came into force in February 2024 allows for vetted researchers to request data under Article 40 from VLOPs and VLOSEs to conduct research on systemic risks in the EU. Paragraph 12 allows for researchers meeting relevant conditions, to gain access to data that is publicly accessible in the VLOPs’ and VLOSEs’ online interfaces. Paragraph 4 allows researchers meeting additional conditions, to apply for access to VLOPs’ and VLOSEs’ non-public data, by submitting a data access application to the relevant Digital Services Coordinator. (Joint Research Centre, 2024)
Note - 22/11/2024 - https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act_en - not currently working - suggest link to actual act - https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32022R2065
Add to sources - European Union. (2022). Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 October 2022 on a Single Market For Digital Services and amending Directive 2000/31/EC (Digital Services Act). Retrieved from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:32022R2065
Joint Research Centre (2023) FAQs: DSA data access for researchers. Retrieved from: https://algorithmic-transparency.ec.europa.eu/news/faqs-dsa-data-access-researchers-2023-12-13_en
Page: https://dmeg.cessda.eu/Data-Management-Expert-Guide/1.-Plan/Research-data
Content: "Social media data... Researchers can access these data in three main ways: : 1) Direct cooperation with the companies/platforms, 2) Buying from data resellers, 3) Via APIs (one might add web scraping to the list but most platforms/companies disencourage its use)."
Comment: Expand resp. update the list how researchers can access SMD (e.g., secondary data, from repositories or archives). The DSA ACT should also be mentioned. Researchers can request data from large VLOPs via national data coordination centres. https://data.gesis.org/tweetskb/ https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-services-act_en