Vetted researcher

The DSA allows researchers unprecedented access to data from very large online platforms and online search engines. The aim is to enable analysis and monitoring of the impact of digital services on society, as well as to support independent supervision of compliance with DSA obligations.

CTU is currently unable to process requests for granting status of a vetted researcher.

The status of a vetted researcher is not universal but is always linked to a specific research project. Research must have a sole purpose which is to contribute to the detection, identification and understanding of systemic risks in the Union, as set out pursuant to Article 34(1) of the DSA, and to the assessment of the adequacy, efficiency and impacts of the risk mitigation measures pursuant to Article 35 of the DSA.

To be certified, the candidates must submit a duly substantiated application to the Digital Services Coordinator of the Member State of the research organisation to which they are affiliated or directly to the coordinator in the country where the provider concerned is established. The application can be submitted exclusively through Home | DSA Data Access Portal. The decision on whether access to the data will be awarded is always made by the coordinator in the country where the very large online platform or search engine is established. The provider may object to this decision.

Pursuant to Article 40(8) of the DSA, applicants for vetted researcher status must demonstrate that:

  1. they are affiliated to a research organisation as defined in Article 2(1) of Directive (EU) 2019/790;
  2. they are independent from commercial interests;
  3. their application discloses the funding of the research;
  4. they are capable of fulfilling the specific data security and confidentiality requirements corresponding to each request and to protect personal data, and they describe in their request the appropriate technical and organisational measures that they have put in place to this end;
  5. their application demonstrates that their access to the data and the time frames requested are necessary for, and proportionate to, the purposes of their research, and that the expected results of that research will contribute to the purposes laid down in Article 40(4) of the DSA;
  6. the planned research activities will be carried out for the purposes laid down in Article 40(4) of the DSA;
  7. they have committed themselves to making their research results publicly available free of charge, within a reasonable period after the completion of the research, subject to the rights and interests of the recipients of the service concerned, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

If the coordinator who granted the status learns during the course of conducting the research that the researcher no longer meets the certification conditions, access to the data will be terminated. 

The detailed technical conditions and procedures under which providers of very large online platforms and very large internet search engines are to share data with vetted researchers are set out in COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2025/2050.

The contact point of the Office for providing information and support in the process of accessing data within the meaning of Article 6(1) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/2050 is the e-mail address podatelna@ctu.gov.cz.

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