X’s New Location Tool Sparks Misinformation Concerns Among Experts

A newly implemented location feature on Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) is raising significant concerns about its potential to fuel confusion and spread misinformation, according to digital media experts.

The feature, which displays the country where an account is supposedly based in the “about this account” section, began rolling out globally over the weekend. X executives claim the tool aims to “verify authenticity” of profiles, but questions have immediately emerged about its accuracy and potential for misuse.

“This is weaponised decontextualisation,” explains Daniel Angus, director of Queensland University’s Digital Media Research Centre. “The problem with this is how some will now try and weaponise it to say things and disparage certain individuals or try and discredit their accounts.”

Angus points out that location data can be easily masked or outdated. Users might employ virtual private networks (VPNs) or simply not have updated their information, making the displayed location potentially inaccurate.

The feature was first announced in October by X’s head of product Nikita Bier, who positioned it as critical for verifying content authenticity. “When you read content on X, you should be able to verify its authenticity. This is critical to getting a pulse on important issues happening in the world,” Bier stated at the time.

A few weeks later, when users requested that location information be made public to identify “foreign bots” allegedly “tearing America apart,” Bier promised implementation within 72 hours. True to his word, the feature launched globally over the weekend, described as the first step in “securing the integrity of the global town square.”

However, the rollout immediately triggered widespread reports of inaccuracies. Numerous users discovered their accounts displayed incorrect locations, including prominent organizations and journalists.

Gaza-based journalist Motasem A Dalloul found his account listed as based in Poland, which prompted Israel’s official Foreign Ministry X account to question the authenticity of his reporting, suggesting it was “fake.” The incident highlighted how quickly the feature could be weaponized in geopolitically sensitive situations.

Australian institutions weren’t spared from the confusion. ABC News was incorrectly labeled as based in Ireland, while the Australian Labor Party appeared as operating from the United States. Even more concerning for national security implications, Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator was listed as U.S.-based, while the Australian National University’s Strategic Defence Studies account showed India as its location.

X has included a small disclaimer acknowledging potential inaccuracies, stating: “The country or region that an account is based can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation. This data may not be accurate and can change periodically.” The company did not respond to requests for comment.

Dr. Elaine Jing Zhao from the University of New South Wales questioned the tool’s accuracy, noting that VPN usage for legitimate purposes such as accessing geo-restricted content or protecting online privacy would affect the displayed location. “What matters here is not only whether people’s use of VPN is detected, but also and perhaps more importantly, how this is interpreted,” she said. “Given the various scenarios where people use VPNs it can have unintended consequences.”

Professor Angus acknowledged that location data could potentially help identify coordinated inauthentic activity across multiple accounts when analyzed in aggregate. However, he stressed it was unreliable for making judgments about individual accounts. “We can’t use that as a reliable information source to say, ‘oh look, this person isn’t where they say they are’.”

The feature also represents a breach of user trust, according to Angus. Many users provided location information during account creation with no expectation it would be made public. He expressed skepticism about X’s claims that the feature aims to increase transparency and platform integrity.

Pointing to research from QUT’s digital research center showing artificially inflated engagement with Musk’s posts during the recent U.S. election, Angus was blunt in his assessment: “X has no interest in maintaining information integrity in any way, shape or form. Since Musk’s takeover he’s allowed mis- and disinformation to thrive on the platform. Anything they say about potential safety features is always going to be taken as ringing completely hollow.”