X’s newly introduced transparency feature has uncovered a vast web of foreign-operated accounts disguised as U.S. political voices and Gaza war eyewitnesses, sparking renewed alarm over international interference in online discourse. The revelation has intensified scrutiny on how disinformation actors exploit the platform’s openness for financial and political gains.
Launched on November 22, the “About This Account” tool allows users to view key details such as a profile’s location, creation date, and username changes. A simple tap on the “Joined” section reveals this information, as explained by X Head of Product, Nikita Bier. Almost immediately, users began discovering major accounts with patriotic American branding that were, in fact, operated abroad.
One standout example was a page named “Patriot Voice for We The People,” boasting nearly 400,000 followers but traced to multiple foreign regions. MAGANationX, another account projecting strong U.S. nationalist identity, was uncovered as operating from Eastern Europe. IvankaNews, a page with one million followers discussing Trump, immigration, and conservative politics, was revealed to be based in Nigeria. Meanwhile, an account titled “America First” originated in Bangladesh.
The exposure went beyond politics. Several profiles claiming to report from inside Gaza during ongoing bombardments were proven to be posting from countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Russia. One user describing themselves as a Rafah eyewitness “under airstrikes” was actually located in Afghanistan. Another posing as a nurse in Khan Younis was traced to Pakistan. These findings indicated a coordinated effort to influence global sentiment around the Gaza conflict.
Shortly after the wave of discoveries, X temporarily disabled the feature. Users speculated it was done to dampen backlash after high-profile far-right accounts were revealed to be foreign-run. However, the tool was later reinstated, with X confirming that it is also working on a VPN-detection upgrade. The update would notify users when a profile may be masking its real location using proxy tools.
To address privacy concerns, X now allows users to choose whether their exact country or only a broad region appears on their profile. Still, the rollout of the feature remains incomplete. While many users can view their own account information, access to others’ details is still limited during the staged deployment phase.
The Centre for Information Resilience had previously warned of foreign-run MAGA-aligned account clusters during the 2024 U.S. election period. Analysts believe that X’s monetization program amplifies the incentive: content creators receive payments for high-engagement posts, making American political content financially attractive. For individuals in countries like Nigeria, Russia, and Bangladesh, U.S. engagement provides significant earning potential.
As X attempts to strengthen authenticity and transparency on its platform, the revelations underline a bigger challenge—how global operators leverage political tensions for profit and influence. The recent findings signal the scale of the issue and the urgency for stronger platform safeguards in the age of digital manipulation.
