DSA40 Data Access Collaboratory

the background depicts the proposed amendment, the foreground reads "Open Letter: The Amendment to Article 12, paragraph 5 GDPR in the Omnibus Proposal Undermines Evidence-Based Policymaking"

We've published an Open Letter urging EU policymakers to reject the Digital Omnibus' proposed Amendment to Article 12(5) GDPR, which would undermine citizens' data access rights & the researchers who depend on them for #DataDonation research.
Read & sign: shorturl.at/e1mr4 - your signature matters.

Today in Tech Policy Press: @markscott.bsky.social and our coordinator @lkseiling.bsky.social write about the precarious state of data access - and the care required to realise its potential as a foundational democratic function.

The full article is freely accessible through the link below ⬇️

Excited to have used the brand new Digital Services Act 40.4 Data Access Portal to request data on Google AI Overviews.

Thanks to support from @spielkamp.bsky.social @lejlamarcius.bsky.social & Michele Loi, plus great prep resources from @dsa40collaboratory.bsky.social, @bnetza.bsky.social & others

The key terms here are:
1) burdensome procedures
2)burdensome tools

While the findings themselves are not public, let's take a closer look 🧵👇

We already have over 100 sign-ups but a few spots are still available for Day 1 of the Data Access Days on research access to platform data under the Digital Services Act (DSA) — happening on 25 September 2025.

Join us in Berlin! 👉 dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...
#DSA40 #DigitalServicesAct

The number "#3" next to an icon of a thermometer with a plus next to it. Above both, the newsletters release day is shown: 31.07.2025

It’s been a while — but our newsletter is finally here!

In this edition, we skip the “risk in focus” to bring you:
🛠️ An update on what we’ve been doing
📊 Our top 5 insights data access highlights
🗓️ An overview of upcoming calls, workshops, and ongoing surveys

dsa40collaboratory.eu/newsletters/...

Register to the #DSA40 Data Access days today before we reach maximum capacity!
Join us in Berlin, September 25 & 26 - to connect and collaborate around DSA-based data access!
More info here: dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...

Wer beim Forschungsdatenzugang jetzt liefern muss Das letzte Puzzlestück für den Forschungszugang für nicht öffentlich verfügbare Plattformdaten ist da. Die Aufgaben für DSCs, Forschende und Plattformen sind nun klar verteilt. Die Wissenschaftler:inn...

„Wer beim Forschungsdatenzugang jetzt liefern muss” –
@lkseiling.bsky.social, @dscheykopp.bsky.social,
@claesdevreese.bsky.social & @ulrikeklinger.bsky.social heute im @tspbackground.bsky.social:

🔗 t1p.de/zf6pa ⬅️

#dsa @dsa40collaboratory.bsky.social

@dscheykopp.bsky.social, @ulrikeklinger.bsky.social, @lkseiling.bsky.social

Want to rise to the occasion? Join our data access days to connect with other researchers working on and with data access and to start drafting your own Art. 40(4) application!
👉 dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...

For Tech Policy Press, the Collaboratory's core team and
@claesdevreese.bsky.social outline key provisions, changes from the draft version, and stakeholder responsibilities clarified by the recently adopted delegated act on data access.

A visual comparision between Recital 12 of the draft delegated act (DDA) and Recital 13 of the adopted version (DA), which cover the same content. Multiple highlights show text removed from the DDA in red, text added in the DA in green, and changes in references (e.g. article numbers and/or paragraph labels) in yellow.

Wanna know what changed between the Draft of the Delegated Act on Research Data Access in the #DSA?
We've aligned the relevant passages and just published the comparison on our website: dsa40collaboratory.eu/dda-da-compa...

Data & code used are available on our github: github.com/access-colla...

The full Delegated Act can be found here: digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...

🧩 Want to dive deeper and collaborate on data access strategies?
Join us in Berlin at the Data Access Days, Sept 25–26. Let’s shape the next phase of platform research together.
dsa40collaboratory.eu/data-access-...

8) 🧭 Access Platform is live:
Explore the new Commission portal: data-access.dsa.ec.europa.eu/home
We suggest creating an account and exploring login options early on.

9) 📅 When can I submit?
Likely Q4 2025. A 2-month grace period follows the adoption. We’ll keep you posted.

6) 🔐 Secure data processing:
Applications will require proper data security measures (e.g., DPIAs). A challenge for some fields, but also an opportunity to build trust.

7) 💶 No cost (for now):
The Act is silent on fees – suggesting access should be free. But nothing’s ruled out entirely.

5) 🧠 Rich datasets available:
Recital 13 confirms access to:
→ Profile info, network data, content exposure, recommendation mechanisms, interaction histories – crucial for communication researchers.

3) 📊 Right to high-quality data:
If data under 40.12 is flawed or insufficient, researchers can turn to 40.4 for better access.

4) 📁 Platform data catalogues:
Platforms must publish and update detailed data inventories. This improves transparency and lets researchers know what to ask for.

2) 🌍 Open to researchers outside Europe:
Researchers worldwide can apply, as long as their work concerns systemic risks in the EU. A strong sign for international collaboration.

1) 🕒 Tight timeframes for access:
DSCs (e.g., BNetzA in Germany) must decide within 80 days.
Mediation processes can’t exceed 65 days.
→ Platforms will not be able to delay requests indefinitely.

🔍 The Delegated Act sets out the criteria and process for these requests – complementing Article 40.12, which covers public data access. For a quick explainer on the difference, check our FAQ: dsa40collaboratory.eu/faq/

But...
🚀 why this the Delegated Act good news for researchers?

dark blue background. on it, there is text saying "The Delegated Act on 40.4 DATA ACCESS is here", "Delegated Act on 40.4 DATA ACCESS" is yellow, the other text is white.

📢 Big news for platform researchers across Europe and beyond:

Today, the @ec.europa.eu adopted the Delegated Act for Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) – a long-anticipated milestone enabling researchers to request access to non-public platform data under Article 40.4.

Platforms need to be researched on the risks they pose to society, like our civic discourse or our mental health. But the relationships between researchers, platforms and regulators are complicated. @lkseiling.bsky.social presenting their work on the #DSA at #WIConf2025

Want to request platform data under Art. 40 DSA?
Our new #DSA40 Q&A explains
🇪🇺 the legal background,
📝 how to request data (public & non-public), and
🫱🏻‍🫲🏽 next steps.
Based on work by Julian Jaursch & @lorenzspreen.bsky.social —thank you for letting us build on it!
dsa40collaboratory.eu/faq/

Ahead of the German Federal Elections🗳️, civil society orgs closely monitored digital election risks📈, assessing party strategies and platform compliance under the Digital Services Act (DSA) and AI Act. A week after the polls closed ⬇️

Vetted Researcher Data Access - Coimisiún na Meán Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) makes provision for researchers to access data from Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) or Very Large Online Search Engines (VLOSEs) for the purposes of st...

Are you interested in accessing platform data as a vetted researcher under Article 40 of the DSA?

Please take 5 minutes to complete this survey from the Irish DSC and share it with colleagues.

www.cnam.ie/industry-and...

You experience the same? Get in touch with @lkseiling.bsky.social and the @dsa40collaboratory.bsky.social !

New Policy Paper: @lkseiling.bsky.social, @dscheykopp.bsky.social, & @ulrikeklinger.bsky.social provide feedback on the Delegated Regulation on Data Access outlined in the #EU Digital Services Act #DSA.

➡️ www.weizenbaum-institut.de/news/detail/...

@dsa40collaboratory.bsky.social

@lkseiling.bsky.social, @ulrikeklinger.bsky.social, @dscheykopp.bsky.social

Today, 3 members of our core team published a text on the draft delegated act today. They summarise the draft, point out what's good and provide a critique of why it falls short in providing a solid foundation for risk governance by not ensuring reliability & accessibility of non-public data access.