X’s new location transparency feature has exposed numerous high-profile US political accounts as being operated from foreign countries, raising questions about authenticity and influence on the platform. The revelation, which came over the weekend, has sparked scrutiny of accounts with large followings that purport to be American but are based overseas.
Over the past few days, X introduced a new ‘about this account’ tab that displays the country or region where an account is primarily accessed, based on data like creation location. Users quickly discovered that many accounts heavily engaged in US political discourse, particularly those supporting or opposing former President Donald Trump, were not based in the United States as their profiles suggested. This feature, intended to enhance transparency, has unveiled a pattern of misleading identities across the social media landscape.
Specific examples include the account ‘TRUMP_ARMY_’, which has over half a million followers and was shared by Trump on Truth Social, but is based in India according to X’s data. Another account, ‘IvankaNews_’, with more than one million followers and posts about voting for Trump, was revealed to be operating from Nigeria. Similarly, CNN identified ‘MAGA Nation,’ an account with nearly 400,000 followers claiming to be ‘America first,’ as based in Eastern Europe, and ‘America First,’ with 67,000 followers, as originating from Bangladesh.
X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, stated that the location data is 99% accurate but cautioned that factors like recent travel, temporary relocation, or VPN usage could affect the results. The platform allows users to toggle privacy settings to show only a region instead of a specific country, yet the disclosures have already led to account suspensions and deletions, such as the ‘IvankaNews_’ profile being taken down for unclear reasons.
Financial incentives appear to be a significant driver, as many of these accounts hold X Premium subscriptions (blue ticks) and can earn money through high engagement rates, including views, likes, and reposts. X’s monetization program requires accounts to meet criteria like identity checks and accumulating millions of impressions, but experts note that the blue tick system may not adequately verify authenticity, instead serving as a revenue generator for the platform.
Researchers and experts highlight mixed motivations behind these accounts, ranging from troll farms and state-sponsored influence campaigns to individuals seeking profit by capitalizing on US culture wars. Darren Linvill from Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub explained that some actors are ‘just trying to make a buck by pretending to be American,’ while others may have political agendas, echoing past foreign interference efforts like those seen in the 2016 election.
The implications extend beyond US politics, as the feature also exposed accounts promoting Scottish independence as based in Iran, despite X being blocked there, suggesting possible state-backed operations. This transparency push by X may reflect broader concerns about distinguishing real users from AI-generated content, as advertisers grow wary of inauthentic engagement. Experts like Jake Shapiro from Princeton University suggest that platforms have a vested interest in verifying authenticity to maintain trust and revenue streams.
Looking ahead, while X’s feature marks a step toward accountability, experts warn that bad actors will likely adapt by using VPNs or other methods to mask their locations. The ongoing scrutiny could pressure social media companies to strengthen verification processes, but it also underscores the persistent challenges of combating misinformation and foreign influence in digital spaces.
