X, formerly known as Twitter, has sent cease-and-desist letters to the open-source project Nitter, demanding the removal of its instances and code repository. The action stems from allegations of scraping.
According to reports, X claims Nitter is engaging in unauthorized data collection from its platform. The cease-and-desist letters specifically request that Nitter take down its various instances – independently hosted versions of the frontend – as well as its code repository. This effectively aims to halt the project's operation and prevent further development.
Nitter is designed as a privacy-friendly alternative to the official X frontend. It allows users to view X content without being logged in or tracked, and blocks advertisements. The project relies on accessing X’s data to function, but X now asserts this access constitutes scraping, a practice prohibited by its terms of service. The company has not publicly detailed the specific methods it believes constitute scraping, nor the extent of the alleged data collection.
This move by X aligns with a broader trend of the platform restricting access to its data and APIs, impacting third-party developers and researchers. The company has previously implemented changes to its API access, leading to the shutdown of other unofficial X clients.
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