X has rolled out its new “About This Account” feature globally, designed to increase transparency by revealing details such as account creation date, username change history, connection method, and notably, the geographic location of the account’s origin. The feature aims to help users better assess account authenticity, especially in an environment where AI-driven bots and coordinated misinformation campaigns are rampant.
However, users have raised concerns about the accuracy of the displayed location. Some accounts show unexpected or incorrect country data, which X acknowledges may stem from factors like the use of VPNs, travel, global teams managing accounts, or reliance on old IP addresses. X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, confirmed that the data for older accounts isn’t 100% accurate yet and promised improvements and indicator features that warn when VPNs have been used to mask locations.
Despite some inaccuracies, the feature has already exposed many right-wing “America First” accounts as being based outside the U.S., with some located in countries such as Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Thailand, sparking significant online debate. X continues to work on refining and expanding this transparency tool to help users make more informed decisions about the accounts they engage with.