Several high-engagement accounts on the social media platform, X, are under scrutiny for potentially misleading users about their locations. This concern arose following the introduction of a transparency feature displaying user locations. Observations have highlighted instances where accounts supporting or opposing political figures in the U.S. were actually based outside the country, prompting questions about the authenticity of their posts.
Some of these accounts, which have amassed millions of impressions through likes, shares, and comments, could be generating revenue based on their online activity. However, BBC Verify has not been able to independently verify the accuracy of the location data provided by X.
The location data is accessible via an “about this account” section, which includes disclaimers that location accuracy might be influenced by travel or VPN usage. X’s head of product claims the information is 99% accurate. For instance, an account named “TRUMP_ARMY_” that gained over half a million followers has been identified as operating from India, despite its content relating to U.S. politics.
In addition, another account, “IvankaNews_,” representing itself as a supporter of Donald Trump, is actually based in Nigeria and has changed its username multiple times since 2010. This account was reportedly suspended by X, though the reasons remain unclear. In another case, an account claiming to be a “proud Democrat” turned out to originate from Kenya and was deleted after this information came to light.
Researchers note that factors driving account creators’ location obfuscation can range from financial incentives to the promotion of cultural or political narratives. Despite the introduction of the location feature, experts caution that some users may find ways to circumvent transparency measures.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj38m11218xo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss