X’s new feature raises questions about the foreign origins of some popular US political accounts

A New Feature on Social Media Platform Raises Questions About Foreign Influence in US Politics

The social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, has introduced a new feature that allows users to see the location of an account based on its signup date. However, experts have quickly identified several popular accounts posting about U.S. politics as being located outside the United States, sparking concerns about foreign influence on U.S. politics.

The feature, which was rolled out over the weekend, has been found by researchers at NewsGuard to be inaccurate for many of these accounts, particularly those supporting the MAGA movement and with large followings. These accounts were posting misleading claims about U.S. politics, including ones that suggested Democrats had bribed moderators of a 2024 presidential debate.

The concerns have led some to question whether the new feature is an invasion of privacy, as it allows users to see where an account is based. However, X's head of product, Nikita Bier, has stated that this is an important step in securing the integrity of the global town square and plans to provide more ways for users to verify the authenticity of content.

The issue is not limited to these accounts, as some have been found spreading misinformation about their own location. NewsGuard researchers discovered instances where fake screenshots were created to suggest that accounts were operated from abroad when they are actually used by Americans.

While the motives behind these accounts remain unclear, it's likely that many are financially motivated and aim to draw engagement through commentary, memes, and videos. The new feature has sparked a division among users, with some questioning whether it goes too far in revealing personal information about their online activities.

idk what to make of this i mean, on one hand, you gotta be able to verify who's behind those tweets that are just spreading info like wildfire but at the same time, isn't seeing someone's location just a lil too much info? like, don't get me wrong, foreign influence is a big deal and all but can't we just focus on the actual stuff being said instead of who's saying it? what do u think tho?

I'm so down for this new feature on X ! It's about time we get more transparency around who's behind these online accounts, you know? I mean, have you seen all the bots and fake profiles floating around on other platforms? This is a step in the right direction, imo. Plus, it's not like X is collecting any sensitive info that could compromise user privacy ... or so they claim, lol. The fact that some of these foreign accounts are spreading misinformation about US politics just raises more questions about who's behind them and what their motives are . Still, I think this feature has the potential to be a game-changer in holding people accountable for what they post online. Bring on the truth-tellers!

so elon musk decides to add location info to his platform like that's gonna solve the problem of foreign influence... meanwhile, people are more worried about their private lives being exposed than actual fake news i mean, if you're gonna spy on users, at least give them a cookie or something and what's with the 'global town square' nonsense? Sounds like someone's been reading too many think tank reports

I'm like totally confused by this new feature on X ... I mean, don't get me wrong, Elon Musk is trying to clean up the platform and all that jazz , but at the same time, it feels like he's stepping on people's toes, you know? Like, just because someone's from another country doesn't necessarily mean they're gonna be spreading misinformation about US politics ... and what's with all these fake screenshots? It's just so shady ...

And I get why the new feature is important for keeping things legit, but can't we just have a more nuanced way of figuring this out instead of like, publicly revealing people's IP addresses or whatever? ... it feels like we're losing some of that online anonymity thing that we need to be able to express ourselves freely ...

It's also got me thinking about how much money these fake accounts must be making off all this engagement and drama ... I mean, if someone's willing to create a fake profile just to stir up controversy, what else are they willing to do?

I'm kinda surprised the new feature on X is causing such a stir . I mean, think about it - if you're not being transparent about where you're coming from, how can we really know what's going on? It's like trying to have an honest conversation in a crowded room without anyone saying who they are . Of course, the fact that some of these accounts are spewing misinformation is super concerning, but maybe this whole thing will lead to more people being vigilant about where their info is coming from .

It's also interesting how X is already thinking ahead and planning to verify content - maybe this is just the start of a bigger conversation about online integrity . As for whether it's an invasion of privacy, I'm not so sure... I mean, we're all basically sharing a bunch of info about ourselves when we sign up for accounts anyway . Maybe this feature is just forcing us to think more critically about our online lives?

I'm like "uh, yeah, no kidding" – foreign influence on US politics isn't exactly a new thing . I mean, come on, we've known for ages that some people with outside interests are trying to shape the conversation in this country . The fact that they're using Elon Musk's platform to spread misinformation and propaganda is just another level of crazy .

And can we please talk about how sketchy it is that some of these accounts were being run by Americans who created fake IDs or something ? Like, what even is the point of that? It's not like they're fooling anyone at this point . And now X is giving users more ways to fact-check content? About time, I guess .

Look, I get it – transparency and accountability are important . But let's not pretend like we haven't been living in a world where foreign actors try to influence our politics for years . This new feature just highlights the problem, but doesn't solve it .

I'm really uneasy about this new feature on X. It feels like we're getting into some Orwellian stuff where the government or corporations can keep tabs on our online activity and even make us feel guilty for having foreign accounts . I mean, what's next? Are they gonna start monitoring our online searches too? Back in the day, when social media was still a new thing, we didn't need all this extra info to figure out who people were or where they were from. It's like they're making us feel like we need some kind of ID card for our online presence .

And what really gets me is that it's mostly the accounts with big followings and controversy surrounding them that are being called out as fake. What about all the legit foreign accounts who just want to share their perspectives or connect with people from different parts of the world? Do they get a free pass just because they're not stirring up trouble?

I get why X is introducing this feature, trying to make the platform more transparent, but I'm not sure it's necessary or even accurate for everyone . It's one thing to say a foreigner is operating an account, but what does that even mean? Is someone just born abroad and moved here when they signed up? Like, what's the criteria? And what about Americans using VPNs or proxy servers? Does that get caught too? I'm not saying it's not important to root out fake accounts, but let's make sure we're not overstepping our bounds with this new feature . It's a fine line between transparency and invading users' privacy.

idk how reliable this new feature on X is... newsguard just dropped a report that like 50% of these "foreign" accounts are actually fake and created by americans just trying to stir up drama what's the point of knowing where an account is based anyway? it feels like x is just using this as an excuse to collect more user data . i'm not saying foreign influence isn't a thing, but let's focus on fact-checking and critical thinking rather than just flagging people for being "foreign"

This is such an interesting topic! It got me thinking... how do we balance the need for transparency and accountability on social media with our own desire for online anonymity? I mean, who hasn't scrolled through their feeds without realizing they're looking at someone's location? But at the same time, if a foreign entity can manipulate our opinions by posting from a fake account in another country... that raises serious questions about our collective integrity. The thing is, once we give up our online privacy, we're also giving up some of control over what we consume and how it shapes our worldview. So, I think this whole situation forces us to reevaluate what kind of digital citizenship we want to practice: one where we're constantly on guard against misinformation, or one where we let our emotions guide us?

I'm not buying this . So X is trying to clean up the platform by making accounts show where they're from? But only for US politics accounts? That sounds fishy . What's next, will they be tracking our internet history too?

And what's with all these fake screenshots that are supposed to prove someone's location? Come on, people, we can't even trust X's own feature? It just smells like some kind of PR stunt to me . I need some credible sources before I accept this is the real deal .

I'm all for authenticity, but let's not rush into something that could potentially compromise our online security. What if this feature is used to target people with specific views? That's a slippery slope right there . X needs to do some serious fact-checking before we start trusting them again .

I'm kinda weirded out by this new feature on X . It's like they're trying to keep tabs on who's behind all those tweets and posts about US politics . First off, I get why experts would be worried that some accounts might not be from the States - it's one thing to see a bunch of people saying the same thing online, but when you start seeing people making claims like "Democrats bribed moderators" , that's just red flag territory. And now that I think about it, why should we even care where someone is from? It's not like it's going to stop them from spewing their opinions or whatever .

I'm tellin' ya, this social media thing is gettin' outta hand . I remember when Facebook was just a platform for college students to connect with each other, and now it's like a whole other world. These big corps are gonna make us all paranoid about where our info is comin' from, man...

I mean, Elon Musk thinks he's doin' some good by keepin' an eye on those foreign accounts, but at what cost? It feels like we're losin' control of our own online spaces. What's next, they're gonna start trackin' where you watch Netflix or somethin'? And don't even get me started on them fake screenshots... it's like, come on, folks! We got better things to do than pretend to be somethin' we're not.

And I gotta ask, what's the real motivation behind these accounts? Are they really tryin' to stir up controversy, or is it just some rich dude tryin' to get his 15 minutes of fame? Either way, it's like we're stuck in this never-endin' cycle of misinformation and outrage...

OMG I'm low-key worried about this new feature on X! Like, what's the harm in knowing where accounts are based? But at the same time, I get why experts are raising eyebrows - we don't wanna let foreign actors swing U.S. politics without us even realizing it . The fact that some accounts were posting misleading stuff and using fake locations is wild .

I think X needs to be more careful with this feature and make sure it's not invading users' privacy , but at the same time, we gotta have some way to verify who's being real online . It's like, if someone's spreading misinformation about politics, shouldn't they be called out for it?

It's also kinda funny that some of these fake accounts were created just to spread engagement , like, come on guys! You can't just make stuff up and expect us to believe it . Anyway, I think this whole thing is gonna blow over, but for now, I'm keeping an eye on X's moves

I'M TOTALLY FREAKED OUT ABOUT THIS NEW FEATURE ON X!!! IT'S LIKE, ONE THING TO DEAL WITH FOREIGN INFLUENCE ON US POLITICS BUT NOW WE'RE ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT OUR ONLINE PRIVACY??? I MEAN, WHO DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW WHERE THEIR ACCOUNTS ARE BEING RUN FROM???? BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK IT'S FAIR THAT PEOPLE ARE POSTING MISINFORMATION AND THEN HIDING BEHIND "I'M JUST A FOREIGNER" WHEN REALLY THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO GET ATTENTION!!!

I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT WE NEED MORE TRANSPARENCY ON THIS PLATFORM, BUT NOT AT THE COST OF OUR ONLINE SAFETY. ELON MUSK AND HIS TEAM SHOULD BE MORE CAREFUL WITH HOW THEY ROLL OUT THESE FEATURES SO WE DON'T END UP WITH A BIG MESS ON OUR HANDS!!!

I feel kinda bad for Elon Musk and X, y'know? I mean, he's just trying to keep the conversation going and make the platform more transparent. I don't think the new feature is malicious or anything . It's actually pretty cool that they're working on verifying the authenticity of content. I'm sure it's not easy dealing with all these fake accounts and misinformation .

I also think it's interesting that some people are worried about their privacy , but like, shouldn't we be concerned about the spread of false info too? I don't think this feature is an invasion of anyone's privacy, just a way to help keep the conversation honest .

And, honestly, who knows what's going on behind those accounts ? Maybe some of them are just trying to make a living online and aren't necessarily from abroad . Let's not jump to conclusions or assume the worst about people who are just trying to express themselves .

I'm low-key worried about this new feature on X . I mean, I get that they're trying to tackle foreign influence and all, but is it worth invading our privacy? It feels like an overreach, you know? Like, what's next? They'll be asking for our passport info or something .

And don't even get me started on the fake screenshots . That's just basic trolling 101. But seriously, it's wild that some accounts are using those tactics to make themselves seem more legit than they actually are. It's like, if you're gonna spread misinformation, be upfront about it, right?

I guess what I'm saying is, while the intentions behind this feature might be good, we need to think critically about how it's going to play out in practice . Maybe they should've thought that one through a bit better...

You know, I was thinking about this whole thing and it got me wondering, what's the real cost of transparency? Like, we're all for accountability and holding people in power to account, but at what point do we start compromising our own freedom?

I mean, think about it, if you can see where someone is posting from just by checking their profile, doesn't that feel like a form of surveillance? It's like, I get that some foreign actors might be trying to influence US politics, but does that justify messing with my own online activity?

And what's the point of verifying authenticity if it's just gonna create more division and tension online? Can we really have a global town square where everyone feels safe to share their thoughts without being judged or manipulated?