Twitter's plan to charge for crucial tool prompts outcry
Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:55 am
Twitter's plan to charge for crucial tool prompts outcry
https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/twitter ... -1.6271719
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Turkiye and Syria, thousands of volunteer software developers have been using a crucial Twitter tool to comb the platform for calls for help -- including from people trapped in collapsed buildings -- and connect people with rescue organizations.
They could soon lose access unless they pay Twitter a monthly fee of at least US$100 -- prohibitive for many volunteers and nonprofits on shoestring budgets.
"That's not just for rescue efforts which unfortunately we're coming to the end of, but for logistics planning too as people go to Twitter to broadcast their needs," said Sedat Kapanoglu, the founder of Eksi Sozluk, Turkiye's most popular social platform, who has been advising some of the volunteers in their efforts.
Nonprofits, researchers and others need the tool, known as the API, or Application Programming Interface, to analyze Twitter data because the sheer amount of information makes it impossible for a human to go through by hand.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/twitter ... -1.6271719
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Turkiye and Syria, thousands of volunteer software developers have been using a crucial Twitter tool to comb the platform for calls for help -- including from people trapped in collapsed buildings -- and connect people with rescue organizations.
They could soon lose access unless they pay Twitter a monthly fee of at least US$100 -- prohibitive for many volunteers and nonprofits on shoestring budgets.
"That's not just for rescue efforts which unfortunately we're coming to the end of, but for logistics planning too as people go to Twitter to broadcast their needs," said Sedat Kapanoglu, the founder of Eksi Sozluk, Turkiye's most popular social platform, who has been advising some of the volunteers in their efforts.
Nonprofits, researchers and others need the tool, known as the API, or Application Programming Interface, to analyze Twitter data because the sheer amount of information makes it impossible for a human to go through by hand.