Twitter lets emergency, transport agencies to access its API for free

Twitter on Wednesday backtracked on its determination to put its utility programming interface (API) behind a paywall, and can enable emergency and transportation service suppliers to access its APIs for free.

Twitter in February introduced to cease providing free access to its API and as a substitute launch a paid model for builders worldwide.

After the controversial determination, Several emergency and transportation accounts encountered points posting alerts to the platform.

The US Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) additionally skilled disruptions to their API access.

Now, the Elon Musk-run platform has reversed its determination for some customers.

“One of crucial use circumstances for the Twitter API has at all times been public utility. Verified gov or publicly-owned providers who tweet climate alerts, transport updates and emergency notifications might use the API, for these important functions, for free,” stated the corporate.

What the platform means by “verified” remains to be unclear.

MTA responded: “Glad that Twitter received the message. We’re completely happy that they’ve dedicated to making API access free for the MTA and different public sector agencies. In mild of this reversal, we’re assessing our choices for service alerts going ahead”.

Other affected providers, together with the NWS, United States Geologic Service, and the US Forest Service, had directed customers to different methods to obtain real-time alerts.

With the free model of Twitter’s API, customers can solely put up 1,500 automated tweets per 30 days.

(With inputs from IANS)