X, formerly Twitter, is facing renewed scrutiny over potential misinformation as users identify discrepancies between the content posted by numerous accounts and their reported locations revealed by the platform’s new transparency feature. Dozens of profiles, particularly those with pro-Russia or anti-EU viewpoints, are raising concerns about coordinated inauthentic behavior. The feature, designed to show users where an account is posting from, how it downloaded the app, and when it joined, was rolled out as part of a broader effort by X to improve platform integrity.
The “about this account” tab, now visible on every profile, displays a user’s reported location, but X itself acknowledges the data isn’t foolproof and can be influenced by VPNs or travel. Despite this disclaimer, the feature is sparking debate, as fact-checkers and users alike uncover accounts posting content convincingly located in one country, yet pinpointed to another by X’s data.
Location Data Sparks Questions About Disinformation on X
Since the update, a significant number of Russian war bloggers have been identified as allegedly posting from Ireland, despite their content consistently focusing on the conflict in Ukraine and originating from Russian sources. One prominent example is Maryana Naumova, a Russian powerlifter and self-described “war correspondent” with over 14,000 followers. Her recent posts, linked to the Russian video platform Rutube, claim she’s reporting from Gorodets, Russia, but X lists her location as Ireland, suggesting possible VPN use.
The inconsistency isn’t limited to Russian accounts. Several profiles promoting anti-EU and anti-migrant narratives, presenting themselves as originating in Europe, are reportedly located outside the continent, according to the new X feature. For example, one account posting in German about European news and crime, and claiming to be based “in the EU”, is flagged by X as being in Western Asia. A self-proclaimed Hungarian account shares anti-EU content yet is pinpointed to North America.
Reliability Concerns and Early Inaccuracies
Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, described the initial rollout as having “rough edges,” indicating that inaccuracies were expected and would be addressed. He later claimed the tool was “nearly 99.9% accurate” by November 24th. However, independent verification reveals ongoing issues. Euronews itself discovered its official account was initially misidentified as being located in the United States, later shifting to France.
Experts are also questioning the methodology behind X’s location tracking. Philipp Darius, a postdoctoral researcher at the Hertie School’s Centre for Digital Governance, noted the lack of transparency regarding how X determines user location. “Without insight into the processes, it’s quite difficult…If X doesn’t share its methods, the data can’t be tested outside the platform,” he said. He further cautioned that clusters of accounts in single locations could indicate widespread VPN usage instead of actual origins.
Darius suggested providing access to this data through a Research API would allow for independent verification and a more robust assessment of accuracy. He also pointed to potential privacy and security risks, particularly for journalists and activists in authoritarian regimes.
Financial Incentives and Coordinated Activity
Many of the accounts flagged for location discrepancies also feature blue checkmarks, indicating subscription to X’s premium service, which offers potential monetization opportunities. To qualify for monetization, accounts must have at least 500 verified subscribers and accumulate 5 million impressions within the past three months. This raises the possibility that some accounts are intentionally misrepresenting their location to gain traction and revenue. The Atlantic Council has extensively documented Russia’s use of online trolls and disinformation campaigns.
According to Darius, this behavior could range from individuals seeking financial gain to organized influence campaigns spreading disinformation. “There can be many motives and backgrounds possible…so this can reach from individuals to organized influence campaigns.” He also pointed out the potential for cheaper labor costs in certain regions contributing to the phenomenon of “click workers” amplifying specific content.
The updated transparency feature, while a step towards greater openness, seems easily circumvented, with users potentially switching to VPNs to mask their true locations. The future will likely see a continued adaptation by users looking to game the system. It remains to be seen how effectively X will refine its location data and address the ongoing concerns about inauthentic activity, but monitoring these discrepancies will be crucial for understanding the platform’s evolving information landscape.
Users should remain critical of the information they encounter on X and rely on multiple sources for verification.
