The Tech Policy Press Podcast Why Independent Researchers Need Better Access to Platform Data
Nov 9, 2025
Peter Chapman, Associate Director at the Knight-Georgetown Institute, Brandi Geurkink, Executive Director of the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, and Elka Seiling, a researcher at the Weizenbaum Institute, dive into the vital need for independent researchers to have better access to technology platform data. They discuss the power dynamics of data access, the challenges posed by the EU's Digital Services Act, and the potential for a more accountable tech landscape. Their insights highlight the crucial link between research access and civic empowerment.
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Public Platform Data Is Civic Infrastructure
- Public platform data is fundamental to understanding civic information environments.
- Researchers need access to that public data to study what shapes what people see and hear online.
Independent Research Rebalances Power
- Independent research democratises power by enabling questions platforms won't ask.
- Without access, only industry-favorable questions and biased results will shape public understanding.
Prioritize High-Influence Platform Data
- Define and prioritize “high-influence public platform data” to focus researcher efforts.
- Target data about highly disseminated content, public figures, and promoted material for civic-impact studies.