Researcher access to platform data under the DSA: Questions and answers

European policymakers – pushed by academia and civil society – included a data access provision for researchers in the EU's rulebook for online platforms, the Digital Services Act (DSA). This provision in Article 40 could potentially provide a huge opportunity for researchers to better understand platforms and, ultimately, help independent regulators oversee platforms based on scientific evidence.

Philipp Lorenz-Spreen from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development and SNV's Julian Jaursch have compiled an overview on Article 40, explaining its key provisions and highlighting open questions. The question-and-answer website is meant to support researchers interested in the DSA and will be updated, as more information on the application of Article 40 emerges.