X (formerly Twitter) has addressed concerns regarding the accuracy of location data displayed on its newly launched "About this account" info panels. The platform clarified that some initial location details might be incorrect, attributing the discrepancies to an outdated database process and VPN usage. This comes amidst a growing debate over foreign influence operations on the platform, sparked by the very feature designed to enhance transparency.
Rolled out over the weekend, X's "About this account" panels are publicly accessible on user profiles. They provide insights into when an account joined, the user's inferred base location, username change history, and account creation method. The primary goal of this feature is to boost transparency, helping users identify potential bot accounts, spam, or foreign actors attempting to interfere in political discourse.
The new panels quickly revealed that several prominent accounts, particularly those frequently commenting on American politics, were not based in the U.S. as widely assumed. This immediately reignited discussions about the scale of foreign influence on X, a platform many Americans still rely on as a key news source, raising concerns about potential impacts on voter behavior.
X Clarifies Data Accuracy Issues
However, X's Head of Product, Nikita Bier, has since clarified that not all initial location indicators are entirely accurate. Bier explained that the platform used an older database system to estimate user locations, which has proven unreliable. This inaccuracy also extends to the account creation country for a subset of older accounts, especially those created using VPNs or through servers routed via different regions. X is actively working to rectify these errors, with fixes expected to roll out this week.
Additional Transparency Measures
To further enhance transparency, X is also introducing indicators for VPN usage on profiles:
Furthermore, Bier stated that X will not display location information for "gray check" government accounts, a measure intended to "prevent acts of terrorism against government leaders." This clarification directly addresses rumors, such as the one suggesting the U.S. Department of Homeland Security account was being run from Israel, which X confirms is false as location was never displayed for official DHS accounts.
User Control Over Location Display
X has updated its Help section with an explainer on how users can manage their displayed region information. The "About this Account" panel infers location from aggregated IP addresses. Users can choose to display a general region or a specific country by accessing settings via the "joined" date on their profile. While users can select their preferred level of detail, the location feature cannot be entirely disabled.
“About this Account is part of your account profile which is publicly available if your account is set to public. X infers this information based on your aggregated IP addresses. You can choose to show the region or country your account is based in by clicking the ‘joined’ date in your profile and selecting the settings gear icon.”
While the rollout of the "About this account" feature has faced some initial PR challenges due to data inaccuracies, the underlying functionality is performing as intended. By providing more context about an account's origin, X aims to improve transparency, reduce foreign influence, and help users better understand potential motivations behind content. The early controversy, despite being a setback, may ultimately serve to raise user awareness of these new transparency tools, potentially yielding long-term benefits for the platform's integrity.
