X's new location feature exposes misleading politics accounts | Global News Podcast

Key Concepts

• X Transparency Feature: A new feature on the platform X (formerly Twitter) that reveals the location and access method (e.g., app, country) of users.
• Location Spoofing/Misrepresentation: Users falsely claiming to be from a certain country or region to gain followers, engagement, or financial benefits.
• Rage Bait: Content deliberately designed to provoke strong negative reactions (disagreement, anger) to increase engagement.
• Monetization on X: Users can earn money on X if their account is eligible, with engagement being a key factor.
• Influence Operations: Coordinated efforts, potentially state-sponsored or by organized groups, to manipulate public opinion or political discourse.
• VPN (Virtual Private Network): Technology used to mask a user's IP address and location, which can distort data provided by platforms like X.
• BBC Verify: The specialist fact-checking team from the BBC.

X's New Transparency Feature and its Revelations

BBC Verify's Cheyenne and Thomas Copeland discuss X's new transparency feature, implemented over the weekend, which allows users to see the location and access method of other users on the platform. This feature reveals that many accounts, particularly those heavily involved in US politics, are not based in the US as they might imply. While X's data is not independently verifiable by BBC Verify, the platform possesses extensive user data (phone numbers, email, GPS) that should enable reasonably accurate location conclusions, though VPN usage can distort this.

Motivations for Foreign Users Posting About US Politics

Thomas Copeland explains that US politics is a highly divisive and polarized topic with a large audience on X (approximately 12% of US survey respondents get news from X, with over 100 million US users). This creates "fertile ground" for engagement. Divisive politics naturally lead to high levels of interaction, including likes, shares, retweets, and comments, even in disagreement. This phenomenon is often referred to as "rage bait," where content is designed to elicit such reactions. For accounts eligible for monetization on X, this engagement can lead to financial rewards.

Copeland highlights that the money paid by X, often in US dollars, can be significantly more valuable in countries outside the US, allowing individuals to earn a substantial income compared to their peers in their home countries. He clarifies that posting about US or British politics is not inherently problematic on X, as it's a global platform. The issue arises when users pretend to be from these countries or claim participation in their politics when they are not. The US's status as a global superpower amplifies interest in its affairs, making it a prime target for such misrepresentations.

Examples of Misrepresented Accounts

BBC Verify has identified several examples:

• MAGA Nation: Based in Eastern Europe.
• MAGA Scope: Based in Nigeria.
• Dark Ma Thailand: Based in Thailand.

These examples illustrate a pattern of accounts engaging heavily with US political discourse while being geographically distant.

Influence and Impact of Misrepresented Accounts

Cheyenne notes that these accounts can wield significant influence, extending beyond the platform itself. Scores of senior US politicians follow some of these accounts.

• Fan Trump Army: This account, with half a million followers, including a senior Republican senator, was shared by then-President Trump on Truth Social. The post celebrated a Supreme Court ruling allowing the deportation of criminals to El Salvador. However, X data revealed this account was based in India.
• Anti-Trump Account: An account describing itself as a "proud Democrat" and "professional MAGA hunter" deleted its profile after it was revealed to be based in Kenya.

Case Study: Scottish Independence and Iran

Cheyenne details an investigation into accounts linked to Scottish politics that are not based in Scotland. Previous reporting had indicated a potential influence operation from Iran targeting Scottish independence. Upon the rollout of X's location data, BBC Verify identified five to six specific accounts consistently posting in favor of Scottish independence and claiming to be based in Scottish cities like Dundee, Glasgow, or Edinburgh.

• Profile Photos: These were found to be lifted from the internet, not representing the individuals they claimed to be.
• Location Data: Initially, the data indicated access from the Android app in Iran. It also showed locations in the Netherlands, which is believed to be due to VPN usage, as the X app is blocked in Iran.
• Iranian Alignment: During the Iran-Israel war in June, these accounts posted positive messages about Iran and praised the Iranian supreme leader.
• Conclusion: The combined evidence suggests these accounts were indeed based in Iran.

While X has the data to determine if these operations are run by governments, companies, or individuals, BBC Verify cannot definitively state the origin. However, the fact that accounts identified as operating from Iran were promoting Scottish independence is noteworthy, given Iran's perceived hostile stance towards the UK and potential interest in its fragmentation.

Changes in User Behavior and Platform Impact

Thomas Copeland discusses how X's changes have affected these users:

• Increased Transparency by Users: Some accounts have altered their profiles to be more upfront about their location. For instance, "Fan Trump Army" now states it is "An Indian who loves America President Trump Musk exclamation mark."
• Account Suspensions: "Ivanka News," an account with over a million followers that claimed to have voted for President Trump and was based in Nigeria, has changed its username 11 times since 2010. After its location was revealed, it posted about genuinely supporting Trump's movement from outside the USA. X has since suspended this account, though the exact reason is unknown.
• User Scrutiny: The transparency feature has led to increased scrutiny from other X users, who are now questioning the motivations of accounts posting about specific national politics when their location data indicates they are elsewhere. This "element of transparency from other users on the app" is expected to become more prevalent.