Meta removes misinformation tracking tool CrowdTangle

The closure of CrowdTangle has been met with protests from researchers and nonprofits. In May, dozens of groups sent a letter to Meta asking the company to continue using the tool until at least January next year, so it could be used throughout the US presidential election.

“This decision jeopardizes important pre- and post-election oversight mechanisms and undermines Meta’s transparency efforts during this critical period, at a time when social trust… is alarmingly fragile,” the letter said.

Illustration photo: AP

CrowdTangle, which was acquired by Meta in 2016, is an essential tool that helps researchers analyze the massive amount of information on the platform and identify harmful content and threats.

Meta has released an alternative to CrowdTangle, called the Meta Content Library. But access to it is limited to academic researchers and nonprofits, excluding most news organizations. Critics also complain that it is not as useful as CrowdTangle.

Nick Clegg, Meta's president of global affairs, said last week that the company has been gathering feedback on the Meta Content Library from "hundreds of researchers to make it more user-friendly and help them find the data they need for their work."

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/meta-xoa-cong-cu-theo-doi-thong-tin-sai-lech-crowdtangle-trong-moi-lo-cua-cac-nha-bao-post307987.html