Meta to Shut Down CrowdTangle Ahead of US Election

The tool's closure, set for August 14, raises concerns over the ability to track misinformation, with limited access for its replacement.

Meta announces the shutdown of CrowdTangle, a tool for analyzing misinformation on its platforms, set for August 14, just ahead of the US presidential election.
CrowdTangle, acquired by Meta in 2016, has been pivotal for researchers, journalists, and officials in identifying misinformation trends on Facebook and Instagram.
Meta plans to replace CrowdTangle with the Meta Content Library, which will be limited to academic and nonprofit researchers, excluding for-profit organizations and journalists.
Critics argue the shutdown and the limited access of the replacement tool could hinder the public's ability to understand and counter misinformation.
The closure of CrowdTangle is part of Meta's broader strategy to manage its platforms' reputations amid controversies over misinformation and illegal activities.