Privacy-focused services Nitter and XCancel have ceased operations following legal pressure from X. The platform issued a cease-and-desist letter last month, citing the unlawful use of its API and data scraping practices. X alleged that these services accessed accounts and session tokens in direct violation of its established rules.
The Nitter project, which previously allowed users to view content without logging in, saw its GitHub page archived on September 11, 2026. This transition to read-only status prevents further modifications or updates to the open-source project. XCancel announced its shutdown on Monday, citing new developments in the ongoing legal proceedings.
This is not the first time X has targeted such services. In 2024, the company implemented API restrictions that forced Nitter instances to require connection to a legitimate X account. The current shutdown aligns with the platform's long-standing strategy to prevent third-party access to its content, ensuring that all views can be monetized through advertisements.
