Social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) has begun introducing a new feature that, for now on a limited scale, lets users see the countries where other accounts are registered.
The platform, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, says the update is designed to boost transparency and help tackle foreign interference, misinformation, and deceptive behaviour online.
The rollout, which began on Friday, November 21, 2025, is still being tested with a subset of users. Those who have access can open an account’s profile, tap on the “Joined” date beneath the bio, and view the country associated with that profile.
Head of Product at X, Nikita Bier, had hinted as far back as October that the feature was intended to help people better assess whether accounts and the content they share are credible. In its latest form, the “About this account” panel goes even further, showing some users extra details such as verification status, the date the account was created, country of registration, how many times the username has been changed, and even the app store country linked to the account.
Not long after the feature appeared, users began noticing patterns around who runs anonymous or faceless media accounts. Many of these accounts, which had previously appeared to be foreign-based, were revealed to be operated largely from Nigeria and India. According to users’ observations, a significant number of such accounts have been involved in scams, spreading misleading information, or amplifying narratives about a supposed Christian genocide in Nigeria.
Some accounts that seemed to belong to South African influencers turned out, under the new label system, to be managed from Nigeria. Indian users were also frequently linked to major motivational and inspirational channels on the platform, which had long appeared to be run from other countries.
One example is the account run by “Dan Alhabil,” with the handle @danaalhabil_01. It previously claimed to be based in Gaza, describing the user as someone displaced from Northern Gaza, and used a linked GoFundMe campaign that raised €63,860. However, X’s “About this account” section now shows that the profile is operated from Nigeria and has changed its username five times since February 2024.
Another popular handle, @IvankaNews_, with over a million followers before the update, was also revealed to be located in Nigeria, despite having been active on the platform since 2010. Similarly, the account @GoodessGelai, active since 2013 and known for its strong MAGA-aligned, pro-American messaging, was shown to be operating from Nigeria as well. MAGA, short for “Make America Great Again,” is the slogan associated with supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
The feature also exposed other location discrepancies. An account using the handle @IsraelSpoof_, which portrayed itself as being based in Israel and frequently posted content supportive of Israeli forces, was revealed to be run from India.
One user, @thunderbolt7404, has been actively using the new tool to trace where accounts are really based, sharing screenshots and findings. According to their posts, a large share of accounts uncovered for spreading propaganda or misleading political content appear to be operated from India.
The update has triggered intense debate and surprise across social media, especially as once-anonymous or “foreign-looking” profiles were suddenly tied to unexpected countries. On X, a user with the handle @GhostFa77254400 wrote that he was stunned to see where some accounts were actually located, saying he was relieved that people could now see “where the heat was coming from” and expressing disbelief that Nigerians, including members of the Igbo ethnic group, were behind some of the controversial accounts.
Another user, @MichaelZucci, noted that the phenomenon isn’t limited to one country, claiming that thousands of MAGA-themed influencer accounts and large political pages that had long presented themselves as U.S.-based are now being exposed as being run from places like India, Nigeria, and other countries.
For some observers, the revelations simply confirm suspicions they say they have had for years. User @blackafricanwit argued that many of the supposedly foreign accounts were actually run by people in India, adding that some operators would “do anything for money” and reportedly earn very low monthly incomes.
On Facebook, commentator Yuyu Odukoya welcomed the move, saying the feature was long overdue and should have existed from the very beginning of the platform.
Supporters of the change argue that showing country labels makes it easier to spot accounts involved in misinformation campaigns, foreign interference, coordinated propaganda, or engagement farming. By making it harder for operators to hide behind fake locations, they believe the platform is taking a meaningful step toward greater accountability.
Critics, however, point to privacy and safety concerns. They argue that not all users are comfortable with their country of registration being visible, and some fear potential harassment, profiling, or misuse of that information.
In response, X has added an option that allows users to display only a broader region rather than a specific country. The company has also clarified that while VPNs can still be used to disguise location, its systems attempt to detect and flag suspicious patterns, adding warning labels where necessary to indicate that an account’s displayed location may not be reliable.