A German appeals court has told the social media platform X to give approved researchers access to public data about Hungary’s upcoming parliamentary election. This is seen as an important test of European transparency rules for big online platforms.
Court orders access to election-related platform data
Reuters reported that the Berlin Court of Appeal decided X must share information about how widely posts related to Hungary’s April 12 election are seen and engaged with. Two civil society groups, Democracy Reporting International and the Society for Civil Rights, brought the case, saying the data is needed for research on online political activity.
A court spokesperson said the ruling takes effect right away. The decision means X must let approved researchers access public information so they can study trends around the election.
Key moment for EU digital rules
CNA shared that the ruling is considered an important step in enforcing the European Union’s Digital Services Act. This law requires big online platforms to share data with researchers who study risks like disinformation, hate speech, and possible election manipulation.
With this decision, X is expected to give data on how many people see posts and how users interact with election-related content. Researchers say this information is crucial for understanding how online discussions and stories spread during sensitive political times.
Jurisdiction dispute resolved
The legal case came after earlier problems getting similar data. The plaintiffs had tried to get this kind of information during Germany’s 2025 federal election but did not succeed.
A lower court had suggested the case should go to Ireland, where X’s European headquarters is located. But the Berlin appeals court decided that German courts can step in if local researchers cannot get data needed for work in the public interest.
The court found that refusing the information directly affected research in Germany, which supported the decision to handle the case there.
Potential penalties for non-compliance
Lawyers for the plaintiffs said the decision cannot be appealed and that X could face financial penalties if it does not follow the ruling.
X did not reply to Reuters’ requests for comment after the ruling.
Focus on election transparency
The case is about monitoring risks related to online political talk before Hungary’s election, which many people will be watching closely. Researchers say having access to platform data is important for tracking disinformation, organized campaigns, and other online activity that could shape public opinion.
The decision supports the EU’s efforts to make big digital platforms more transparent, especially during elections. By requiring access to engagement data, the ruling could set an example for how courts apply research access rules under European law.
