Elon Musk’s platform X ignited widespread backlash this weekend after rolling out a new transparency feature showing the region where user accounts are based. The update became visible under a newly introduced “About This Account” section, prompting immediate confusion, criticism, and fierce debate across the platform.
The feature was announced publicly when Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, shared on Saturday that the platform had begun displaying the country or region tied to an account. According to Bier, the move is part of X’s broader plan to improve authenticity and strengthen trust across what Musk has long described as the “global town square.”
Bier said the new option aligns with the company’s earlier October transparency roadmap, noting, “This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square.” He added that X intends to introduce more methods for verifying content authenticity in the future.
Backlash Grows Over Privacy and Accuracy Concerns
The update quickly faced criticism. Some users argued that revealing account origins could endanger people living under governments that restrict free speech. Others accused X of forced doxxing, saying the platform was exposing sensitive information without user consent.
Several users also pointed out the feature’s potential inaccuracy. Accounts created using VPNs may display misleading locations, while older accounts may show outdated or incorrect country data. This concern was acknowledged by Bier himself, who later admitted the location data “was not 100 percent.”
By Saturday afternoon, X removed location details for some accounts, with Bier stating that the company plans to reinstate the corrected version by Tuesday. Hours later, he posted again, joking, “I need a drink.”
The Federal Trade Commission has previously scrutinized tech platforms for privacy and transparency practices, though X has not yet commented on whether the new feature will undergo regulatory review.
Users Investigate Rivals and Influencers
Once the feature went live, users immediately began checking the “About This Account” pages of high-profile profiles—especially accounts tied to political movements. Screenshots quickly circulated showing discrepancies between political personas and their displayed locations.
One example included the influencer account MAGA NATION, with over 400,000 followers, which promotes strongly pro-Trump content. Contrary to its American-first branding, the account appeared to be based in Eastern Europe.
Another popular account named America First, created this year and boasting nearly 70,000 followers, was identified as being based in Bangladesh—despite posting slogans such as “Thumbs up if you’re a Trumper who loves God.”
Researchers at the Pew Research Center have long examined how foreign influence shapes online political communities, adding a new layer of context to the concerns raised by X users this weekend.
As the controversy continues, it remains unclear how the feature will evolve once it returns on Tuesday—or whether X will adjust it in response to mounting privacy and safety concerns.
