Two German activist organizations have filed a lawsuit against X in a Berlin court, claiming the social media platform violates European Union law by denying free access to data necessary for monitoring election-related disinformation ahead of Germany’s February 23 national election.

As Reuters reports, the Society for Civil Rights (GFF) and Democracy Reporting International are seeking systematic access to metrics, including post reach, likes, and share counts. These data points were previously available to researchers before Musk acquired the platform in 2022, when such access was converted into a paid service.

“Other platforms have granted us access to systematically track public debates on their platforms, but X has refused to do so,” Michael Meyer-Resende of Democracy Reporting International said in a statement.

Election Monitoring Concerns Mount After Romania Case

The lawsuit gained significance following last year’s Romanian presidential election, where authorities identified what they described as a Russian-directed social media campaign that contributed to a pro-Russian candidate’s unexpected first-round victory. The election was subsequently annulled, though Moscow denied any interference.

The case holds particular relevance for German political discourse as X remains a primary communication platform for government officials and political figures despite recent departures from the platform. 

The situation has drawn increased attention after Musk’s January interview with Alternative for Germany leader Alice Weidel, which followed his December post, “Only the AfD can save Germany!”

GFF’s Simone Ruf stressed the urgency of the situation, stating, “Platforms are increasingly being weaponized against democratic elections. We must defend ourselves.” The activist groups argue that the European Union’s Digital Services Act protects their right to access this data.

TikTok also launched a dedicated in-app Election Center ahead of Germany’s February 2025 federal election to combat misinformation. However, a recent study by the non-profit organization AI Forensics and European think tank Interface revealed that TikTok’s search algorithm may have inadvertently promoted Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party to young voters during the European Parliament elections.