German court orders X to share election misinformation data

A German court has ruled that Elon Musk’s social media platform X must provide researchers with data to track the spread of misinformation ahead of the country’s national election on 23 February. The Berlin district court’s decision follows a legal challenge by civil rights groups, who argued that the platform had a duty under European law to make election-related engagement data more accessible.

The German ruling obliges X to disclose information such as post reach, shares, and likes, allowing researchers to monitor how misleading narratives circulate online. The court emphasised that immediate access to the data was crucial, as delays could undermine efforts to track election-related disinformation in real time. The company, which had failed to respond to a previous request for information, was also ordered to cover the €6,000 legal costs.

The case was brought forward by the German Society for Civil Rights (GFF) and Democracy Reporting International, who hailed the verdict as a major win for democratic integrity. Concerns over misinformation on X have intensified, particularly following Musk’s public endorsement of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), currently polling in second place. In January, Musk posted that ‘only the AfD can save Germany,’ sparking further scrutiny over the platform’s role in political discourse.

X has yet to respond to the ruling. The decision could set a precedent for how social media companies handle election-related transparency, particularly within the European Union’s regulatory framework.