This webinar explores the cases brought by Democracy Reporting International (DRI) and the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF) against X to obtain platform data under Article 40(12) of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
As one of the first private enforcement actions under the DSA — and the first focused specifically on data access — the session will examine what the case was about, how the legal process unfolded, and what the final decision means for platform accountability and independent research.
The discussion comes at a critical moment: without meaningful access to platform data, researchers and regulators cannot verify whether platforms are complying with their obligations or accurately assessing systemic risks.
The case followed shortly after the European Commission found X non-compliant on similar grounds, amid growing political pressure surrounding the enforcement of digital governance rules in Europe. Participants will gain practical insight into how Article 40(12) can be used in practice, the key lessons learned from the litigation process, and concrete recommendations for researchers and civil society actors considering similar action.
Join Michael Meyer-Resende and Daniela Alvarado Rincón from Democracy Reporting International!
Speaker: Michael Meyer-Resende, Executive Director at Democracy Reporting International.
Michael is a lawyer with 20 years experience in democracy, media and diplomacy.
Speaker: Daniela Alvarado Rincón, Digital Democracy Policy Officer at Democracy Reporting International.
Daniela Alvarado Rincón is a Policy Officer at Democracy Reporting International’s Digital Democracy team, where she ensures the team’s research is effectively integrated into EU’s digital policy discussions. Daniela has a background in law and public policy.
Moderator: Joe McNamee, Senior Policy Expert, EU DisinfoLab
Joe has been working on topics related to internet regulation for over 20 years. Prior to his current role as Senior Policy Expert at EU DisinfoLab, he worked as policy adviser for a political group in the European Parliament. From 2009 to 2018, he led European Digital Rights, the association of digital civil rights organisations in Europe, working on major topics such as the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Copyright Directive. Prior to this, Joe worked for a political consultancy specialised in telecommunications and internet policy, where he led three research projects funded by the European Commission. During this time, he also worked on the EU’s E-Commerce (the predecessor to the DSA) and ePrivacy Directives. Joe holds master’s degrees in European Politics and in International Law.
The opinions expressed are those of the speakers/authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of EU DisinfoLab. This webinar does not represent an endorsement by EU DisinfoLab of any organisation.