AlgorithmWatch
Algorithmic decision-making, transparency & accountability of platforms' automated systems (recommendation, moderation, ranking algorithms). Public interest audits of how platforms deploy AI/algorithms.
- Type
- Nonprofit NGO / Algorithmic Accountability Research Org
- Based in
- Berlin, Germany
- Focus region
- Europe (strong Germany/EU focus) with analysis of global platforms
Notable projects
Automating Society reports; investigations into Instagram/TikTok recommendation & moderation systems; platform data access advocacy; research on opaque algorithmic governance.
Pioneering civil society research on algorithmic systems used by platforms. Frequently faces platform pushback (e.g., Instagram research blocks). Key voice in EU DSA discussions on researcher access.
- Investigations
- 8
- Platforms tracked
- 4
- Active since
- 2023
- Latest report
- Jan 2026
Topics covered
- Algorithmic Harm & Recommender Systems5
- Platform Compliance & Governance3
- Data Access & Research Tools2
- Election Integrity2
- Ad Transparency & Fraud1
- Content Moderation1
- Gender-Based Violence & Harassment1
- Misinformation & Disinformation1
Watchdog vs. platform
Publicly documented legal proceedings, access disputes, or other platform pushback. Allegations, findings, and outcomes are labelled separately and linked to their sources.
Meta and AlgorithmWatch's Instagram monitoring
Meta / Instagram2020–2021AlgorithmWatch said it ended a browser-extension project monitoring Instagram's newsfeed after Meta alleged violations of its terms and the GDPR and warned of 'more formal engagement'. The organisation characterised the warning as a threat of legal action; the dispute was not adjudicated. [1][2]
Status: Monitoring project ended; no court or regulator ruling on the dispute.
Researchers
Current
- Oliver MarshHead of Tech Research4
- Jennifer Krueckeberg1
- John Albert1
- Melis Omalar1
- Nicolas Kayser-BrilHead of Journalism1
Former
Reports
Full database2026
1 report- Jan 2026X/TwitterMetaTelegramCross-platformOther
Sexualized images on X: what we are doing to stop them and what we expect from the EU
Documented networks of X accounts openly promoting non-consensual 'nudify' tools; a reported post was deemed non-violating, and X refused a DSA Art. 40.12 data request, blocking research (context to the EU's DSA fine on X).
Gender-Based Violence & HarassmentData Access & Research ToolsArt. 40 — Researcher data accessArt. 34/35 — Systemic riskBy Oliver Marsh
2025
2 reports- Oct 2025TikTok
For politicians, TikTok's algorithm is a handy bogeyman
Critiques a French parliamentary report on TikTok, arguing European politicians invoke platform algorithms as a scapegoat while sidestepping harder evidentiary and regulatory work.
Algorithmic Harm & Recommender SystemsPlatform Compliance & Governance - Jan 2025Meta
Statement on Meta's Announcement to Gut Moderation and Fact-checking
Argues Meta's end of third-party fact-checking and relocation of moderation teams will increase harm and disinformation; assesses the Commission's limited DSA options.
Misinformation & DisinformationContent ModerationPlatform Compliance & GovernanceArt. 34/35 — Systemic risk
2024
1 report- Jun 2024Meta
Meta's elections dashboard: A very disappointing sign
Technical critique of Meta's EU election-monitoring dashboard: keyword lists mis-copied across countries, Instagram lacking location filters, and Facebook filters cutting ~50% of relevant material, calling it a 'PR distraction.'
Election IntegrityPlatform Compliance & GovernanceArt. 34/35 — Systemic riskBy Oliver Marsh
2023
4 reports- Nov 2023Meta
Not a solution: Meta's new AI system to contain discriminatory ads
Meta's 'Variance Reduction System' for biased US housing-ad delivery is 'more band-aid than AI fairness solution'; reporting gaps make it impossible to verify.
Ad Transparency & FraudAlgorithmic Harm & Recommender SystemsArt. 26 — Ad labellingBy John Albert
- Aug 2023Meta
Social media algorithms are harmless, or are they?
Critiques the Meta-partnered 2020-election studies, arguing behavioral data showed the algorithms increased uncivil-content exposure, removed cross-cutting content, and boosted time-on-platform.
Algorithmic Harm & Recommender SystemsElection IntegrityBy Marco Bastos
- Mar 2023Meta
Reels of Fortune: Instagram-shaped memories for a bigger reach
Qualitative story on how Instagram's pivot to Reels/video pushes users to curate memories 'for the algorithm,' generating training data that teaches the platform to rank memories automatically.
Algorithmic Harm & Recommender Systems - Jan 2023TikTok
What does TikTok know about you? Data donations deliver answers!
Launch of the DataSkop TikTok data-donation campaign, detailing TikTok's extensive data collection and the opacity of the 'For You' feed.
Data Access & Research ToolsAlgorithmic Harm & Recommender SystemsArt. 40 — Researcher data accessBy Melis Omalar