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X tried to kill Nitter; project returns
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
X Corp sent cease-and-desist letters to Nitter on Aug 24, 2026. The project returns, refusing to comply, with XCancel back online.
Background
Nitter is an open-source alternative front-end for X (formerly Twitter) that allows users to view tweets without ads or tracking. X Corp has been trying to shut it down, sending cease-and-desist letters on August 24, 2026. The project initially complied by archiving its code and taking services offline, but after seeking legal advice, it has decided to continue operating.
How it unfolded
- January 2024Zedeus declares Nitter dead after X disables guest accounts.
- Early 2025Nitter returns using account sessions.
- Aug 24, 2026X Corp sends cease-and-desist letters; repository archived, instances offline.
- Sep 6, 2026Repository unarchived; legal representation confirmed.
- Sep 7, 2026XCancel operational; nitter.net announces project continuation.
Who’s saying what
- Project
- Following legal advice, the Nitter project will continue, and instances will be back up shortly.
- X Corp
- X Corp demanded permanent removal of Nitter instances and repository via cease-and-desist letters.
Still unverified
The exact nature of X Corp's legal threats and the outcome of the September 9 deadline are not yet known.