National Weather Service accounts were not granted API exemptions by Twitter

On Friday and throughout the weekend, multiple National Weather Service (NWS) accounts announced that Twitter had removed their API access, which would disrupt crucial potentially life-saving automated emergency updates. The move came as Twitter prepares to transition its currently free API service to a paid subscription model starting at an exorbitant $42,000 per month for Enterprise access.Twitter users were immediately outraged by the decision. Many advocated for the company to make exemptions for important public service accounts, like the NWS, which provides vital alerts during extreme weather events. Then, suddenly, a few verified “breaking news” Twitter accounts shared an update: Twitter had reversed course. Elon Musk and company was going to make that exception for NWS accounts and allow them access to the API without limits. Media outlets like CNN quickly covered Twitter’s apparent change of heart. Twitter users were jubilant over the news.Only, it’s not true. Mashable reached out to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce which runs the National Weather Service, to confirm the unofficial reports that have spread on the platform.”Twitter informed NWS there are no plans for exemptions,” National Weather Service Director of Public Affairs Susan Buchanan told Mashable in a statement. Mashable connected with the NWS once more to confirm again and Buchanann reiterated in a separate email that the statement is accurate. As of now, Twitter has said it will not provide API exceptions for the NWS and has not provided the agency with any further…National Weather Service accounts were not granted API exemptions by Twitter