X’s New Feature Reveals Foreign Origins of US Political Influencers

A new X feature is exposing users who pose as Americans to influence US politics. The “About This Account” tool shows the location of profile owners. Many prominent accounts pushing far-right content are based overseas.

This development comes amid growing concerns about platform manipulation. X, formerly Twitter, has faced criticism for its relaxed moderation policies.

Global Network of Political Actors Unmasked

X’s product head Nikita Bier announced the feature rollout this past weekend. The tool displays account creation dates and location data. According to Reuters, this aims to improve platform transparency.

Users quickly discovered numerous political accounts claiming American identities were actually foreign-operated. An account called @AmericanGuyX, presenting as a Florida resident, actually operates from India. Another Trump-supporting account with over 500,000 followers also traces to India.

These accounts often push divisive content about US politics. They typically support right-wing narratives while attacking liberal figures.

Financial Incentives Drive Inauthentic Behavior

X’s creator payment program financially rewards high engagement. This system incentivizes provocative content regardless of authenticity. Foreign operators can earn money by stoking American political divisions.

The platform’s weakened moderation under Elon Musk has enabled this ecosystem. Accounts using AI-generated profile pictures and stolen bios violate X’s own rules against manufactured identities. Yet enforcement appears limited for right-wing voices.

Some exposed accounts have quickly altered their profiles to explain their foreign locations. The @honeymoon250 account claimed to be a nurse working with NGOs in Africa after being exposed as Nigerian.

The revelation of foreign political influencers highlights ongoing platform integrity challenges. This location transparency marks an important step toward accountability in digital political discourse.

Thought you’d like to know

What information does X’s “About This Account” feature show?

It displays when an account was created and how many times the username changed. The feature also shows the account owner’s country or general region.

Why are foreign accounts interested in US politics?

They can earn money through X’s creator payment program. Engaging content about divisive American politics often generates significant revenue.

How many political accounts have been exposed as foreign?

Dozens of prominent accounts have already been identified as operating from other countries. These include accounts with hundreds of thousands of followers.

What countries are these accounts primarily based in?

Many operate from India, Nigeria, and Eastern European nations. Others have been traced to Turkey, Ukraine, Thailand, and the United Kingdom.

Does X prohibit fake accounts?

Yes, X’s rules ban using manufactured identities or deceptive profile information. However, enforcement appears inconsistent across the platform.