X erupts after the platform reveals the locations where accounts are based
Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has recently stirred controversy with its new feature that reveals the geographical region of user accounts. This change, part of an “About This Account” section, aims to enhance transparency and combat misinformation online. Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, described this initiative as a crucial step toward maintaining the integrity of what he calls the “global town square.” However, the rollout faced immediate backlash, particularly from users in regions where freedom of speech is restricted. Critics labeled the feature as a form of “forced doxxing,” expressing concerns that it could expose users to political repercussions for sharing their opinions online. In response to the uproar, X temporarily removed location information from some accounts, citing inaccuracies, especially for older profiles, and promised an upgraded version by the following Tuesday.
The implications of this new feature became evident over the weekend as users began to explore the “About This Account” pages of various profiles. Some accounts that promote MAGA talking points were found to be based in unexpected locations, such as Eastern Europe and Bangladesh, raising questions about the authenticity of these accounts and their narratives. For instance, the MAGA NATION account, which boasts around 400,000 followers, was revealed to operate from a non-EU country in Eastern Europe, while another account, America First, appeared to be based in Bangladesh. This prompted a wave of memes and discussions among users, highlighting the discrepancy between perceived and actual origins of influential accounts.
Bier acknowledged the potential for inaccuracies due to the use of VPNs, stating that the feature would include disclaimers about location data being affected by factors like travel or proxy use. To mitigate privacy concerns, Bier also noted that the location of government-associated accounts would remain undisclosed. The feature has reignited discussions about the prevalence of fake profiles and misinformation on social media, particularly in light of AI advancements that complicate the landscape. As X navigates these challenges, the accuracy and implications of user location data will likely remain a contentious topic among its user base.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgX4I9_wXGw
Elon Musk’s X now shows the location of many user accounts.
Gonzalo Fuentes/REUTERS
X announced that it will display the region in which an account is based.
The information is visible under the new “About This Account” section.
X removed the feature for some accounts on Saturday. Its head of product said an upgrade was coming Monday.
Elon Musk’s X
played a starring role in another weekend internet kerfuffle.
It began when Nikita Bier, X’s head of product, posted on Saturday that the platform had rolled out a change intended to increase transparency: an “About This Account” page that, among other things, reveals the country or region where a user’s account is based. The company announced plans for the feature in October.
“This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square. We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify the authenticity of the content they see on X,” Bier
wrote on X
on Saturday.
Not everyone was eager to reveal the origin of their accounts. Users in places that limit freedom of speech could face political repercussions. Some users called it forced doxxing. Others said that if a user created an account using a VPN routed through another country, the location information may not be accurate.
On Saturday, X removed information about where some accounts were created. Bier said the data “was not 100 percent,” especially for older accounts, and that the company plans to “bring it back by Tuesday.”
Five hours later, he posted again: “I need a drink.”
Late Sunday, he
added
that there would be an upgrade in 12 hours and that location accuracy would be “nearly 99.99%.”
X appears to have factored in the VPN point. On Monday morning,
Business Insider tested the “About This Account” feature from a device using a VPN and found a notice that warns the “country or region may not be accurate” due to the use of a proxy.
The location function also comes with an accuracy disclaimer, which states: “The country or region that an account is based can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation. This data may not be accurate and can change periodically.”
X update reveals some surprising locations
Over the weekend,
X users
started tapping into the “about” pages of their online rivals.
Several prominent X accounts that promote MAGA talking points, for instance, appeared to be based in places far from the United States.
The account MAGA NATION, which has some 400,000 followers and describes itself as “America First,” is, according to the new feature, based in a non-European Union country in Eastern Europe. Another account called America First — which was created in March, has close to 70,000 followers, and posts things like “Thumbs up if you’re a Trumper who loves God” — appears to be based in Bangladesh.
The examples go on.
Here’s a fun story, remember all of those “I’m an independent Trump supporting woman” accounts on X that pretended to be real people in the US supporting trump? Due to recent location updates, we now know almost all of them are based in Thailand. Let’s take a look 👇
pic.twitter.com/7kRdlcPqHS
— Benjamin Strick (@BenDoBrown)
November 22, 2025
Some users started making memes, of course.
This is how X feels today😂😂
#AmericaFirst
#locations
pic.twitter.com/SYum1nMN0f
— Bee (@littlebeemarie)
November 23, 2025
It should come as little surprise that many accounts are perhaps not what they seem. Fake profiles, disinformation, and coordinated efforts to
sow discord online
have long been a problem on X and other social media platforms, and the threat has only worsened with the
advent of AI
.
MAGA NATION, for its part, has not addressed its location and continues to post at a healthy clip. The account has changed its name five times since its creation in April 2024, according to X. One of its most recent posts asks if its followers think Hillary Clinton should be arrested. The people behind the account could not be reached for comment.
Location doxxing
In response to a question about doxxing a user’s location while they are travelling, Bier
said
on Saturday that it would update on a “randomized” and delayed schedule to “ensure this is not possible.”
In 2022, X — then Twitter —
banned accounts
sharing the movements of private jets, including Musk’s, who raised safety concerns about tracking real-time movements
Bier also
said
over the weekend that the “About This Account” feature would not show the location of any official government-associated accounts with a gray check mark “to prevent acts of terrorism against government leaders.”
President Donald Trump’s account does not display his location data and only shows that he joined X and was verified in 2009. Musk’s account shows he is located in the US, but states he has been verified since “3000 BCE,” a period of history that coincides with the rise of complex civilizations in places like ancient Egypt.
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Business Insider
