X has apparently succeeded in shutting down Nitter and XCancel, two services that let people read posts from the platform without logging in or holding an account. The move follows a cease-and-desist letter X sent to Nitter last month, accusing it of "unlawful use and circumvention" of X's API and data, and marks a further tightening of Elon Musk's control over access to the platform's content. The services had offered a more private, ad-free and tracking-free way to view X posts, and their loss removes a popular route for people to follow the platform without boosting its user numbers.

Nitter and XCancel briefly went offline after receiving the cease-and-desist in August but resumed service earlier in September. However, Nitter's GitHub repository was archived and set to read-only on 11 September, and XCancel posted a statement the following day saying it had suspended service due to "a new development in the ongoing legal proceedings," without giving further details. It remains unclear whether the suspensions are temporary or will become permanent closures.