GLOBSEC’s second annual mapping of data accessibility for researchers offers a timely snapshot of how independent researchers across the EU experience access to platform data under the Digital Services Act.

Drawing on a survey of 34 experts from academia, NGOs, think tanks and research centres conducted in autumn 2025, the report finds that while researchers rated their data access experience at 6 out of 10 — an improvement from 4.6 in 2024 — significant barriers remain. Fragmented API access, prolonged waiting times, arbitrary denials, and restrictive platform environments continue to obstruct public-interest research, particularly work tied to elections, disinformation and foreign information manipulation.

The report also assesses early perceptions of the vetted researcher mechanism under Article 40(4) of the DSA, which entered into force in October 2025. Researchers across the board expressed scepticism about its workability, citing timelines of up to nine months as incompatible with the pace of real-world research.

The findings are addressed to EU and national policymakers, Digital Services Coordinators, and platform representatives, with concrete recommendations for making data access faster, more inclusive, and more functional.