X Legal Action Against Open-Source Project Nitter Over Data Scraping Allegations

Nitter, an open-source project that enabled users to read X (formerly Twitter) posts without logging into the platform or opening its app, has received cease-and-desist letters from X demanding its shutdown. The service, which stripped ads, tracking cookies, and JavaScript from X content, powers other platforms like XCancel. This isn’t X’s first attempt to block Nitter; in 2024, API restrictions temporarily disabled Nitter.net, forcing hosts to connect to real X accounts. Now, X is pursuing legal action, accusing Nitter of unlawfully circumventing its API and accessing user data through scraping. The cease-and-desist letter cites violations of Texas computer access laws and the Lanham Act, giving Nitter until August 25 to shut down. Creator Zedeus suspended development and sought legal advice, stating nitter.net is offline. Similar actions by Meta and other platforms have increasingly restricted third-party readers, forcing users to log into official apps for content access. This marks a broader trend of social media companies cracking down on data scraping tools, limiting user privacy and convenience.