Open-source project Nitter has received cease-and-desist letters from X demanding that the service shut down. The platform allowed people to read X posts without logging into or opening the official X app. A brief message posted to the project website announced the news.
The service also powers several other sites, such as XCancel, enabling users to view X posts directly. Nitter worked by fetching public X posts and stripping out advertisements, tracking cookies, and JavaScript. This provided a clean way to read posts without an account or an app.
This is not X's first attempt to shut down Nitter. In 2024, the flagship instance Nitter.net went dark temporarily after X introduced new API restrictions. Following that crackdown, individuals hosting a Nitter instance were required to connect it to a real X account, according to the project's GitHub page. Despite those restrictions, development resumed and Nitter instances returned online.
X is now utilizing legal means to shut down Nitter and its instances. The Nitter website indicates that the project is currently offline while its creator seeks legal advice after receiving the cease-and-desist letter. The creator, a developer using the handle Zedeus, informed TechCrunch via email that other Nitter instances received similar letters.
X Corp. sent cease-and-desist letters on August 24, 2026, demanding a permanent takedown of Nitter instances and the project repository. Nitter.net is offline and development has stopped for the time being. Zedeus stated that legal advice is being sought and no further comments on specifics will be provided at this time. Gratitude was expressed to everyone who used, hosted, packaged, donated, and contributed to Nitter over the past seven years.
The letter from X, viewed by TechCrunch, accuses Nitter of unlawful use and circumvention of X application programming interface and associated data. X stated it has evidence that Nitter scraped X data and accessed X accounts and session tokens in violation of platform rules.
Lawyers for X asserted that these actions violate various state and federal laws. These include the Texas Harmful Access by Computer Act and the Lanham Act. The letter gave Nitter until 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on August 25 to shut down.
X is not alone in policing alleged scrapers. Meta has taken multiple scrapers to court. Most larger social networks currently restrict third-party readers, compelling users to log in and view content through official applications where they face tracking and personalized ads.
This development impacts individuals who used Nitter and its instances to keep up with posts on X without an account. Affected users must now choose between losing access or creating an account and logging in, as X likely intends.
The creator is currently seeking legal advice.
