European researchers studying disinformation on social media platforms are struggling to access data despite being legally entitled to it under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), with platforms like X and TikTok imposing technical barriers, narrow eligibility criteria, and burdensome security requirements. The issue is highlighted by the case of Romanian researcher Adriana Iamnitchi, whose DSA data request to TikTok was denied before the 2024 Romanian election, potentially preventing her from identifying coordinated networks that promoted far-right candidate Calin Georgescu — who went on to win the first round with 23% of the vote. While the EU has taken some enforcement action, including fining X €120 million, researchers remain cautious about whether recent regulatory changes will meaningfully improve access in practice.
