India, Nigeria, Sri Lanka: X reveals where viral MAGA accounts are based • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• X Account Location Feature: A new feature on Elon Musk's platform X (formerly Twitter) that displays the geographical region or country from which an account is operating.
• MAGA Accounts: Social media accounts associated with the "Make America Great Again" political movement.
• Disinformation/Fake Profiles: The spread of false or misleading information, often through fabricated online personas.
• Coordinated Networks: Groups of accounts working together to amplify specific messages or sow discord.
• US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Account: The official X account for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
• VPN (Virtual Private Network): Technology used to mask a user's IP address and location.
• Geographical Data Accuracy: The reliability and precision of the location information displayed by the X feature.

X Platform's New Account Location Feature and Resulting Outrage

Elon Musk's platform X has launched a new feature that displays the geographical region or country from which an account is operating. This rollout, which went live globally over the weekend, has led to significant outrage and confusion, particularly concerning politically charged accounts.

Discovery of Unusual Locations for Prominent MAGA Accounts

The most notable impact of this new feature has been the exposure of the actual operating locations of several prominent "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) accounts.

• MAGA Nation: Described as an "America first patriot voice for we the people" with nearly 400,000 followers and consistently achieving hundreds of thousands of views and engagement, this account was found not to be based in the United States. Instead, its data indicates it is operating from Eastern Europe in a non-EU country.
• Pro-MAGA Account: Another Pro-MAGA account, which posted "President Trump is delivering exactly what I voted for," was also listed as being based in a non-EU country in Eastern Europe.
• Other Examples:
  • American Voice: Listed as being based in India.
  • America First: Listed as being based in Bangladesh.
  • Republican Media: Listed as being based in Sri Lanka.
• Suspended Accounts: Two of the largest MAGA accounts, both now suspended (though the reasons for suspension are unclear), were reportedly listed as being based in Nigeria.

The reporter emphasized that these are just a few examples, representing the "tip of the iceberg" of numerous accounts exposed as operating from unexpected locations.

Prevalent Issue of Fake Profiles and Disinformation on X

While the revelations have caused outrage and ridicule, the reporter noted that this is not entirely surprising. The prevalence of fake profiles, disinformation, and coordinated networks designed to sow discord online has long been an issue on the X platform. However, this new feature has made these discrepancies more visible.

Controversy Surrounding the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Account

The new feature also led to controversy regarding the official account of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

• Initial Display: A screen recording circulated online, showing the DHS account listed as being based in Israel, not the United States.
• X's Response: Shortly after this surfaced, X disabled the location feature for government accounts, citing a need to "prevent acts of terrorism." The listing of the DHS account as being in Israel was subsequently removed.
• Backlash and Criticism: This incident triggered a wave of backlash, fueling criticism amid existing tensions regarding U.S. support for Israel.
• DHS Denial: Initially, the DHS responded with a meme-like image of a shocked Donald Trump, neither confirming nor denying the report. However, they later issued a full denial, stating the account has "only ever been run and operated from the United States." They also suggested that screenshots and videos can be easily forged or manipulated.

Technical Glitches and Inaccuracies in the Location Feature

The new feature is not without its technical issues and inaccuracies, with X's head of product acknowledging "rough edges" that need to be resolved.

• User-Reported Glitches: X users have pointed out instances where their own locations were displayed incorrectly without any action on their part.
• VPN Evasion: It has also been observed that VPNs can easily mask a user's true location, undermining the accuracy of the feature.
• France 24 English Example: The official account for France 24 English, confirmed to be based in Paris, was incorrectly listed as being based in Germany.
• Disclaimer: X has added a disclaimer stating that the data may not be accurate and can change periodically.
• Planned Improvements: X's head of product has indicated that an upgrade is coming, with the aim of achieving "nearly 99.99% accuracy." The effectiveness of these improvements remains to be seen.

Conclusion

The rollout of X's new account location feature has been far from smooth. While intended to provide transparency, it has exposed significant discrepancies in the stated locations of numerous accounts, particularly within the MAGA movement, and led to a notable controversy involving the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The platform is currently working to address technical glitches and improve the accuracy of the feature, acknowledging that there are still "rough edges" to iron out.