X reveals the geographical origin of numerous accounts… but the data seems unreliable
The new “About This Account” feature, which X has begun rolling out, is already causing controversy. Intended to enhance transparency, it has quickly led to a wave of accusations: certain influential accounts from the “America First” camp — often heavily politically engaged — are reported to be based… abroad.
An avalanche of supposedly Pakistani or Thai “MAGA” accounts
This feature displays several pieces of information, including the account creation date, app installation method, and most notably, a presumed geographical location which has captured public attention.
Progressive influencer Micah Erfan has published a gallery of pro-Trump or ultra-conservative accounts allegedly located in Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Thailand. He stated: “This is total armageddon for the online right.”
This is total armageddon for the online right.
It’s looking like half of their large accounts were foreigners posing as Americans all along. pic.twitter.com/XMPVapxx6d
— Micah (@micah_erfan) November 23, 2025
Among the detected accounts, some are minor, while others have amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, fueling suspicion and mockery.
X already acknowledges errors in the data
In response to the reactions, Nikita Bier, product director at X, confirmed on Saturday that the feature is being rolled out globally and represents a first step towards improved transparency.
In a couple hours, we’ll be rolling out About This Account globally, allowing you to see the country or region where an account is based. This will be accessible by tapping the signup date on profiles.
This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town… pic.twitter.com/5d7cX21qGj
— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) November 22, 2025
However, several users claim that their displayed location is completely incorrect. Bier admitted that the information is “not 100% reliable for older accounts,” mentioning some “rough edges” that are expected to be fixed by Tuesday.
Inconsistencies highlighted by the press
As noted by The Verge, there are indeed troll farms and provocative accounts based outside the United States. However, the locations displayed by X seem at times absurd or implausible.
Several factors could account for these errors:
- use of VPNs;
- recent relocations;
- management teams based in various countries;
- old IP addresses linked to the account;
- data transfers migrated from older versions of the system.
A feature still far from delivering the promised “transparency”
At present, geolocation appears mostly to breed confusion — and provide narrative ammunition for both political camps. While X promises quick fixes, this episode serves as a reminder of how even transparency tools can be sources of misinformation… when they rely on inaccurate data.
