Canadian researchers specializing in tracking online misinformation and foreign interference have welcomed a new feature introduced by X, which discloses the geographical location of user accounts. However, they caution that the feature still has some glitches and should be interpreted with caution.
While the capability to reveal accurate locations has the potential to expose fake accounts and foreign entities posing as Canadians to manipulate political discourse, experts also highlight the risks associated with potentially endangering individuals such as dissidents by revealing their actual locations or VPN usage for online communication.
Recently, X, formerly known as Twitter, unveiled an “about this account” feature that displays the geographic location of accounts. Although there were calls for greater transparency from those concerned about the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation on social media, the unexpected rollout of the new feature prompted a swift reaction and triggered a wave of user activity in the U.S. and Canada to scrutinize discrepancies in account locations.
The revelation that a number of influential accounts supporting U.S. President Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement were based outside the United States, including in regions like Eastern Europe, Russia, and Nigeria, raised questions about potential foreign influence on the movement. Similarly, accounts soliciting donations for families in Gaza were found to be located in countries such as India.
Notable mismatches in location details were also identified in accounts engaging in discussions about Canadian politics. For instance, a prominent Conservative-leaning account with over 150,000 followers was listed as being situated in Italy, while an account advocating for Alberta sovereignty with 15,000 followers was shown as being based in Thailand. Both accounts have not responded to inquiries from CBC News.
Furthermore, two out of five federal political parties and media organizations like the CBC were inaccurately listed as being located outside of Canada. While the Conservative, Bloc Québécois, and Green Party accounts were correctly listed as being in Canada, the new location feature erroneously identified the Liberal Party and New Democrat accounts as being in the United States.
In response to the discrepancies, representatives from the NDP and Liberal Party clarified that the location inaccuracies were likely due to the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) to secure internet activity and mask actual locations. The Liberal Party emphasized that all its social media accounts are managed from Canada, despite the misleading information.
Although X has yet to address inquiries regarding the situation, experts suggest that the feature’s reliance on aggregated IP addresses to determine account locations may lead to inaccuracies, as illustrated by instances like Philip Mai’s account being incorrectly listed in Germany after visiting the country for research.
The introduction of the new feature by X follows increased pressure for the platform to enhance transparency amid concerns about foreign interference in political affairs. While the tool is viewed as a step towards combating deceptive accounts and manipulation, experts emphasize the need for refinement and caution against potential risks, especially for individuals relying on VPNs for privacy and safety reasons.
In conclusion, while the new feature may aid researchers in identifying accounts involved in foreign interference, it is crucial for users to critically evaluate online content and not solely rely on location data to draw conclusions.