Nitter and XCancel, two privacy-focused services that allowed users to view posts from X (formerly Twitter) without logging in, have been shut down again following recent legal pressure from X. Nitter, an open-source project, provided a way for users to access public X content free from ads, trackers, and JavaScript through alternative front-ends. XCancel and other platforms had utilized Nitter’s technology to enable anonymous browsing of X posts. Last month, X issued a cease-and-desist letter accusing Nitter of illegally scraping data and circumventing its API, which led to the projects’ temporary suspension earlier this year.

Despite initial statements from the Nitter project about continuing operations after receiving legal advice, Nitter’s GitHub repository was archived on September 11, making it read-only and ceasing further development. XCancel similarly announced on September 14 that it was suspending its service indefinitely due to new developments in the ongoing legal dispute. Both closures effectively cut off access to convenient, ad-free browsing of X content without an account, which disappointed users who preferred these privacy-friendly alternatives.

Nitter had repeatedly faced challenges from X in prior years. In 2024, Nitter’s main instance went offline temporarily when X implemented stricter API restrictions, forcing third-party hosting projects to link instances to real X accounts. X’s continuing efforts to limit third-party access highlight their desire to maintain control over monetization and user engagement on their platform. These moves have contributed to the demise of several popular third-party apps over the years.

For users who preferred lurking without participating on X or boosting its metrics, the shutdown of Nitter and XCancel represents a loss of valuable tools for privacy-respecting social media consumption. Neither Nitter nor XCancel have provided further public statements on the shutdown. The legal actions underscore ongoing tensions between social media platforms and independent developers seeking to create alternative access points to their content.