• Meta (Facebook's parent company) has shut down CrowdTangle, a valuable research tool that provided insights into the performance of content on social media platforms. CrowdTangle was widely used by researchers, journalists, and fact-checkers to analyze the reach and engagement of posts, particularly those that were spreading misinformation or going viral. The article suggests that Meta may have shut down CrowdTangle because the data it provided was "inconvenient" and revealed unflattering information about the company's platforms.

• The shutdown of CrowdTangle is a significant loss for the research community, as it was one of the few tools available that provided transparent, independent data on social media trends and performance. Without access to this data, it will be much more difficult for researchers to study the impact of social media on society, the spread of misinformation, and the algorithms that drive content distribution. The article argues that this move is part of a broader trend of tech companies restricting access to data and making it harder for outside parties to scrutinize their platforms.

• The article also raises concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in the tech industry, particularly when it comes to the algorithms and systems that determine what content is amplified and distributed on social media. The shutdown of CrowdTangle is seen as a step backwards in efforts to hold these companies accountable and ensure that their platforms are not being used to spread harmful or misleading information. The article calls for greater regulation and oversight of the tech industry to ensure that these platforms are serving the public interest rather than their own commercial interests.