[embedding-shape]

It's not "any company", it's exceptionally large platforms who can give insight into large societal questions and have enough influence to sway people's opinions. The data is technically public already, researchers could scrape it, but investigations has to be able to be done to ensure the platforms aren't used to intentionally steer people's opinion in a specific direction, since they're unable to self regulate that it seems.

[Aerroon]

But governments themselves can steer people's opinions just fine? Can I get access to my politicians' emails "for research purposes"?

[Zigurd]

> Can I get access to my politicians' emails "for research purposes"?

In the US that's called an FOIA. It could include their personal devices if they use them for work communication. It's not limited to research purposes.

[embedding-shape]

No, they cannot. And yes, in some countries you can request that if you have a reason for it.

[squigz]

Are those emails already public?