[Air-L] RIP Twitter Search API

[Shulman, Stu]

I am not sure how or why, but access to the Twitter Search API is back via
DiscoverText. I did get a number of notes saying "Are you sure?" after the
RIP note and I was fairly certain until today and our API keys were
renewed. We are also looking at connecting some new social data APIs so
please send ideas if you have suggestions of open, reliable, stable APIs.
One non-social media platform we are exploring for medical research is:
https://clinicaltrials.gov.

On Sat, Mar 11, 2023 at 12:08 PM Stuart Shulman via Air-L <
air-l at listserv.aoir.org> wrote:

> The Twitter Search API we have used for gathering data since 2010 appears
> to be gone. Is the academic API also gone? I have heard the price of access
> is prohibitive. What does this mean? Foremost, if you do research on
> Twitter data, back up everything you already have. If you have any Twitter
> datasets you are now an archivist with precious cargo. Limiting access to
> new data hinders the ability of researchers to understand the evolving ways
> in which the platform is used in ongoing information warfare operations,
> for example to exacerbate polarization in democratic countries and trigger
> future insurrections here in the United States. However, at the scale of,
> say a university or even all universities, there is a massive amount of
> stored data. One thing I notice about misinformation propagandists
> weaponizing Twitter is they like to stick with what they know already
> works. While we figure out how to access and study new data we should
> meanwhile be aware that the tactics previously used give important clues
> about what is coming. I don't think Mr. Musk bought Twitter to make money.
> So the concern for me is more about what other reasons would inspire him to
> overpay for a money losing business and then set about changing the user
> composition, researchers access, governance mechanisms, and other really
> important elements. I am worried specifically that the future power users
> able to pay for API access points will shape more of what goes onto the
> platform and shows up at the top of the feeds. The general trend is
> disconcerting and dangerous with proto-fascists running about banning books
> and Elon platforming white supremacists and their fellow travelers.
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-- 
Dr. Stuart W. Shulman
Founder and CEO, Texifter
Editor Emeritus, *Journal of Information Technology & Politics*