X has long had a problem with fake and bot-run accounts, which was a concern Elon Musk had with the platform when he first floated the idea of buying it. — Reuters
The Internet is still reeling days after Elon Musk’s social media platform X unveiled its new “About this account” feature. The information it shows about where an account is based suggests that many of the accounts posting divisive content about US politics are operating out of some pretty unlikely places.
For example, tech blogger and researcher Jane Manchun Wong captured a screenshot of the account @American that shows it is actually based in Pakistan. Similarly, an account with some 400,000 followers called @MAGANationX, which describes itself as a “Patriot Voice for We The People,” appears to be based in Eastern Europe. Threads formed with screenshots of accounts, many that share impassioned content related to President Trump’s Make America Great Again movement, that are supposedly based everywhere from Bangladesh and Macedonia to Nigeria.
At launch, the feature originally displayed information such as the year and location an account was created, where it is currently based, and how many times the account has changed its username. Shortly after launch, X removed information about where an account was created, but kept details about where it is currently located, The Verge reported. It also added a disclaimer that factors including recent travel may affect location data, and that an account’s location may be inaccurate or may change over time.
Immediate response to the feature was mixed, with some people praising its transparency and others claiming it violates privacy. Some pointed out bugs, or slapped down misinformation circulating after the feature’s release. The Department of Homeland Security, for example, posted on Sunday in response to accounts that were alleging it was based outside of the US “I can’t believe we have to say this, but this account has only ever been run and operated from the United States. Screenshots are easy to forge, videos are easy to manipulate. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the post reads.
Nikita Bier, X head of product, posted in response to the backlash on Saturday afternoon.
“There are a few rough edges that will be resolved by Tuesday,” he wrote. “If any data is incorrect, it will be updated periodically based on best available information. This happens on a delayed and randomised schedule to preserve privacy.”
It’s also worth noting that the feature does offer certain safeguards to users in speech-restricted parts of the world, including a privacy toggle that shows only a region, rather than a country.
X has long had a problem with fake and bot-run accounts, which was a concern Elon Musk had with the platform when he first floated the idea of buying it, Business Insider reported. And a bipartisan investigation of Russia’s interference in the 2016 election revealed that foreign actors do have a vested interest in interfering in US politics. The Verge noted, however, that it is also likely that some accounts based overseas were created for monetary gain, as well. When the “About this account” feature was first teased in mid-October, Bier emphasised that it was meant to help verify the authenticity of accounts.
He reiterated that thinking when announcing the feature’s rollout on Saturday: “This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square. We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify the authenticity of the content they see on X.”
The feature found an ally in Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina and former US ambassador to the United Nations, who ran for president against Trump in 2024. She posted to both X and Bluesky on Monday morning.
“I have long said foreign actors are using social media to poison our politics and divide Americans. The location feature on X is a huge win for transparency and American security. Other social media platforms should do the same,” she wrote. – Inc./Tribune News Service
