New Location Feature on X Raises Questions Over Accuracy and Safety

Canadian researchers tracking online misinformation are responding to the launch of a new feature on X, formerly known as Twitter, that reveals the geographic location of user accounts. While many welcome the initiative for its potential to expose fake accounts and foreign actors attempting to sway political discourse, concerns over inaccuracies and user safety have been raised.

On April 9, 2024, X introduced its “about this account” feature, which displays the geographic location of accounts. Advocates for transparency in social media had long called for such measures, yet the rollout generated significant surprise and skepticism among users in both the United States and Canada.

This feature allows users to investigate accounts that may not be based where they claim. For instance, some influential accounts affiliated with the Make America Great Again movement were identified as operating from regions like Eastern Europe, Russia, and Nigeria, prompting questions about foreign influence on U.S. politics. Similarly, accounts purportedly representing families in Gaza seeking aid were shown to be located in India.

Location mismatches have also emerged in Canadian political discourse. A prominent Conservative account with over 150,000 followers is incorrectly listed as based in Italy, while another advocating for Alberta sovereignty with 15,000 followers is marked as located in Thailand. Neither account has responded to inquiries from CBC News regarding these discrepancies.

The situation extends to federal political parties, with some accounts, including the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party (NDP), inaccurately reported as operating from the United States. Lucy Watson, the NDP’s national director, attributed this error to the party’s use of a virtual private network (VPN) to manage its online presence in Canada. “Our account is managed in Canada, not in the U.S.,” Watson stated.

Matteo Rossi, spokesperson for the Liberal Party, redirected questions to X, stating that all party social accounts are indeed run from Canada. In response to the location issues affecting its accounts, Chuck Thompson, head of public affairs at CBC, emphasized that “all of CBC’s accounts are proudly located and run out of Canada” and indicated efforts to correct the inaccuracies.

Experts attribute the inaccuracies to X’s reliance on IP addresses associated with accounts to determine their locations. According to Philip Mai, co-director of the Social Media Lab at Toronto Metropolitan University, location data can be skewed due to aggregated IP addresses. Mai noted that his own account is mistakenly listed as being in Germany, where he traveled for research last September.

The introduction of this feature comes amid growing scrutiny of X as a platform susceptible to foreign interference in political matters. Mai suggested that while the new tool offers potential benefits for researchers, it may also lead to complications for users seeking privacy. “This is part of their evolving strategy to combat bot accounts and foreign influence operations,” he said.

Although the new feature aims to enhance transparency, it could inadvertently expose individuals who rely on VPNs for safety. Mai remarked, “VPNs are vital tools for activists, journalists, and people living under repressive governments, allowing them to safeguard their privacy.” The exposure of VPN usage might place these individuals in jeopardy.

Mika Desblancs-Patel from the Media Ecosystem Observatory in Montreal welcomed the increased transparency but cautioned that the current inaccuracies could undermine its effectiveness. He highlighted the challenges researchers face in accessing reliable data, stating, “This is not something that social media companies are happy to give.”

Desblancs-Patel noted that while the feature may help identify accounts involved in foreign interference, it remains uncertain whether it will provide a lasting solution. He encouraged users to remain vigilant and critical of the information presented to them. “I would generally urge people to be cautious when drawing conclusions from this location data and treat it as another tool they can use to critically examine the content they’re exposed to online,” he advised.

As X continues to refine its features, the balance between transparency and user safety remains a critical concern. The effectiveness of the “about this account” feature in combating misinformation and foreign interference will depend on its accuracy and the platform’s responsiveness to the issues raised by users and researchers alike.