Access to data from major online platforms: Arcom encourages researchers to contribute to the public consultation launched by the European Commission

The European Digital Services Regulation (DSR) aims to promote a safer Internet within the European Union. It imposes new obligations on all platforms offering services within the EU in terms of moderation of content published by their users and transparency of their operations.

Article 40 of the regulation makes provision for an innovative mechanism enabling access to the data of major online platforms for researchers approved by the coordinators of digital services [1].

The major platforms use algorithms to process the data at their disposal, in particular to highlight content or personalize the content offered to users. The effect of these algorithms - whether intended or unintended - is therefore difficult to observe, unless individual data can be accessed in full compliance with data protection regulations. The work carried out by researchers is therefore essential to establish the actual behavior of platforms, to characterize their effects on our societies, and thus to be able to adapt regulation to the challenges of our time. This work is a necessary tool for understanding the transformations of our democracies in the digital age.

On October 29, 2024, the European Commission launched a public consultation on the rules governing researchers' access to data from online platforms. In particular, the draft delegated act specifies the proceedings allowing access by approved researchers, as well as the technical conditions required for this data sharing.

Arcom, in its capacity as coordinator for digital services in France, itself organized a public consultation on this subject, the summary of which was published in June 2023.

The regulator therefore welcomes the publication of the draft delegated act and the public consultation launched by the European Commission, which will ultimately make it possible to institute the approval proceedings and give researchers the opportunity to access unpublished data to fuel their work.

Arcom reminds researchers of the importance of their contribution to the successful implementation of the accreditation proceedings, and invites those who wish to do so to respond directly to the European Commission's public consultation, or to send in their observations, which will be relayed to the Commission by November 26, the last day of the public consultation.

Researchers can contact Arcom using this e-mail address.