25 Nov 2025, 19:18
X Launches New Feature for Displaying User Locations
- The new X feature reveals the locations of user accounts.
- Some MAGA accounts have been found registered outside the USA.
- Concerns about the accuracy of the data raise doubts about the effectiveness of the feature.
This is reported by NBC News, El País.
Recently, the platform X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, introduced a new feature that allows users to see the locations of accounts. This initiative has sparked discussion, especially since it has been revealed that many popular accounts associated with the slogan "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) are actually managed from outside the United States.
Since the launch of the new feature, some accounts with thousands of followers who support Donald Trump have been found registered in countries such as Egypt, Nigeria, Thailand, and Germany. This has raised concerns among analysts and experts, who indicate the potential for manipulation of location data.
The feature, which allows viewing information about the country of registration of accounts, was discussed as far back as 2018, but was criticized and shelved until its realization. According to previous data, X utilizes IP addresses and data from internet service providers to determine location, but the accuracy of this data raises questions. Experts note that technologies such as VPNs can facilitate circumvention of the system.
An additional problem arose when some NBC News journalists showed locations that did not correspond to their real origins, indicating potential flaws in the new system. As one of the former X employees noted, the new feature may create an illusion of safety among users whose data is not secure.
Despite the criticism, representatives of X, including head of product Nickita Bira, assert that the new feature is an important step towards increased transparency. They claim that the accuracy of the data reaches 99.99%, and any discrepancies will be corrected within the shortest time possible.
Tags: Technology