- Office of Electronic Communications

The European Commission has adopted a delegated act on access to data from online platforms for verified researchers

The delegated act was adopted based on Article 40 of the DSA. This document establishes detailed rules for granting verified researchers access to data from very large online platforms and very large internet search engines. The new rules are intended to enable independent research into the systemic risks described in the DSA, such as disinformation or the dissemination of illegal content.

The delegated act sets out the criteria that researchers must meet (including membership of independent scientific institutions and no commercial ties) and requires platforms to provide transparent information on the application procedure. The EC is also working on the creation of a dedicated portal to facilitate contact between researchers and national digital services coordinators.

The new regulations are an important step towards greater transparency in the online environment and strengthen the role of science in monitoring the impact of platforms on society.

The text of the Act is available on the European Commission's website.