X sends cease-and-desist to open-source project Nitter over alleged scraping

Open-source project Nitter, which enabled users to read X posts without logging into the X app, has received cease-and-desist letters from X, demanding the project's shutdown. This follows X's earlier attempts to disrupt Nitter's operations through technical means. Nitter also powers other platforms, such as XCancel, that allow users to view X posts directly.

Nitter's service works by fetching public X posts and stripping out ads, tracking cookies, and JavaScript, providing a clean reading experience without an account or the app. The project's GitHub page explains that after X's 2024 crackdown, users had to connect Nitter instances to real X accounts. Despite the restrictions, development of Nitter instances resumed after that crackdown.

However, this time, X is seeking to shut down Nitter and its instances through legal action. According to the website, Nitter.net is offline and development has ceased while the project's creator seeks legal advice. The creator, Zedeus, reported that other Nitter instances received similar cease-and-desist letters. X accuses Nitter of unlawfully using and circumventing X's Application Programming Interface (API) and associated data by scraping X data, accessing X accounts, and session tokens, which violates X's rules.

Legal experts for X assert that these actions violate state and federal laws, including the Texas Harmful Access by Computer Act and the Lanham Act. The cease-and-desist letter gives Nitter until 5 p.m. EST on August 25 to shut down.