GISAID's restrictions on access have led to conflict with "labs and institutions whose priorities are academic rather than driven by the immediate priorities of public health protection". In January 2021, GISAID's restricted access led a group of scientists to write an open letter asking for SARS-CoV-2 sequences to be deposited in open databases, which was replicated in the journals Nature and Science. Furthermore, the article from Science  points out that the lack of transparency in access to the database also prevents many scientists from even criticising the platform.
GISAID's limitations on access have caused friction between "researchers and institutions focused more on academic pursuits than those driven by immediate public health concerns". In January 2021, GISAID's restricted access prompted a group of scientists to write an open letter requesting SARS-CoV-2 sequences be deposited in publicly accessible databases, which was echoed in articles published in Nature and Science. Moreover, the article from Science highlights that the lack of transparency in database access also hinders many scientists from even criticizing the platform.