A number of high-profile accounts on X are facing scrutiny for potentially misleading users, following the implementation of a new transparency feature that reveals user locations.
Social media users have identified instances of pro-Trump accounts discussing U.S. politics, which are reportedly based outside of the United States. Similar discrepancies were also found among anti-Trump accounts.
Some of these accounts have garnered millions of impressions – encompassing views, likes, reposts, and replies – potentially generating revenue through X’s monetization program.
BBC Verify has not been able to independently verify the location information provided by X for each account.
The location data is displayed in a new “about this account” section accessible on every profile.
The platform also includes a disclaimer acknowledging that location data may be affected by recent travel, temporary relocation, and the use of virtual private networks (VPNs).
However, according to X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, the information is reportedly 99% accurate.
On Saturday, former President Trump shared a screenshot on Truth Social of a post from an X account named “TRUMP_ARMY_” which celebrated a Supreme Court ruling that it indicated would allow him to deport criminals to El Salvador.
This account has amassed over half a million followers, including a senior Republican senator.
However, location data from X indicates that the account is based in India and the username has been altered four times since March 2022, most recently in July 2022.
The account profile has since been updated to state it is maintained by “an Indian who loves America, President Trump, Musk!”
Another account, “IvankaNews_,” which describes itself as a fan account for Trump’s daughter, has accumulated more than one million followers and has previously posted about voting for the former president last year.
X data now reveals that the account is based in Nigeria and its username has been changed 11 times since 2010.
After its location was revealed, the account posted that “some of us living outside the USA genuinely support President Trump’s movement.”
X appears to have since suspended “IvankaNews_,” but the reason for the suspension remains unclear.
BBC Verify also identified accounts sharing anti-Trump posts that, according to X’s new feature, are based outside the U.S.
One such account, with 52,000 followers, identified as a “proud Democrat” and “professional Maga hunter.”
The user seemingly deleted their profile after its location was revealed to be Kenya.
BBC Verify has also observed multiple accounts claiming to be from Scotland which primarily post in support of Scottish independence.
However, X’s location data suggests these accounts are accessing X from the Android app in Iran. While the location tab indicates they are based in the Netherlands, X has added a warning sign suggesting the accounts may be using a VPN.
BBC Verify has attempted to contact these accounts but has not yet received a response.
Many of these accounts possess blue checkmarks, indicating a subscription to X’s Premium service, which allows them to potentially earn revenue based on engagement rates.
To access X’s monetization program, users must meet certain criteria, including identity verification and achieving over 5 million impressions within three months.
Alexios Mantzarlis from Cornell Tech suggests the blue checkmark system is exacerbating existing issues on the platform.
“The blue ticks on these accounts tell us one thing we already knew: X’s pay-for-play badging is just a revenue generator and not a serious verification effort.”
He notes, however, that features like “community notes,” which allow contributors to add context to trending posts, demonstrate the platform’s commitment to transparency.
Researchers indicate that various motivations can contribute to an account’s lack of location transparency.
Darren Linvill from Clemson University’s Media Forensics Hub, an expert in misinformation, explains:
“There are accounts that are run by troll farms, that are run by nation states, and then there are accounts that are just trying to make a buck by pretending to be American.”
Mantzarlis supports the notion that financial gain is often a motivating factor.
“There is always some money to be made from fanning America’s culture wars on social media.
“That said, organized state actors and political parties have been shown to leverage sockpuppet accounts over and over again, so it’s probably a bit of both.”
Despite X’s new feature, Prof. Linvill believes some users will find ways to circumvent it.
“Bad actors will very likely quickly adapt… they can round it by VPN, they’ll adapt the way they’re creating their account so it appears they created their account in the west or in the United States”.
Additional reporting by Benedict Garman, Sharihan Al-Akhras and Paul Myers
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