Meta announced it is shutting down CrowdTangle, a tool widely used by academics, researchers, and journalists to track the spread of misinformation, hate speech, and election interference on Facebook and Instagram. The decision, which comes just months before the U.S. election, has sparked significant backlash from civil society groups, regulators, and politicians who argue that the move could hamper efforts to monitor harmful content on Meta’s platforms. Despite more than 50,000 people signing petitions urging Meta to reconsider, the company is moving forward with the shutdown.
CrowdTangle has been a crucial resource for understanding how Facebook and Instagram’s algorithms contribute to the viral spread of false information. Over the years, Meta has gradually limited access to the tool, culminating in its complete shutdown. Regulators, including the European Commission and bipartisan U.S. lawmakers, have expressed concerns that ending CrowdTangle could leave critical gaps in identifying security threats and misinformation, especially during election periods.
In response, Meta has pointed to its new tool, Meta Content Library, as a more comprehensive alternative to CrowdTangle. However, access to the Content Library is far more restricted, available only to qualified academic or nonprofit researchers. Critics, including the Coalition for Independent Technology Research, argue that the new tool is insufficient and does not adequately replace the valuable insights provided by CrowdTangle.
