Foreign Meddling? Brussels-Funded German NGO Sues X For Access To Data On Hungary's Upcoming Election

A German NGO, Democracy Reporting International (DRI), funded by the EU and other governments, is suing X (formerly Twitter) in Germany. This lawsuit aims to access X's data regarding the upcoming Hungarian parliamentary elections in April. DRI claims this data is needed to study potential disinformation and interference. The Society for Civil Rights (GFF) and a law firm are also involved in the legal action. This is the second such lawsuit against X in Germany, the first related to the 2025 German election. The case intensifies the already charged political climate, raising questions about defining democratic legitimacy in Europe. The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) mandates data access for research concerning systemic risks, which DRI argues X has violated by denying access. Critics suggest the DSA is used to control narratives during elections, a claim echoed by the U.S. House Judiciary Committee. X has concerns about user privacy and jurisdiction. The Hungarian election is competitive, with Prime Minister Orbán facing opposition and tensions with the EU. Orbán has accused the EU of meddling. DRI's funding from European bodies raises concerns about external influence over national elections.