On November 23, Twitter launched a new feature displaying the actual country location of all accounts. This move responded to user concerns over anonymous or fake profiles posing as "true" American patriots but actually operated from other countries.
The exposure of account locations led to widespread revelations. Notably, MAG Nation X, with nearly 400,000 followers, turned out to be registered in Eastern Europe, likely Russia or Belarus. America Voice appeared in South Asia, and the million-follower Ivanka News account was based in Nigeria. Many of these profiles published pro-American, patriotic, or anti-immigrant content while having no real connection to the US.
The feature uses various technologies, including IP geolocation, App Store country, payment address, and data from device registration, even accounting for VPN usage. Twitter warns users about possible inaccuracies when an account tries to hide its real location.
Investigations revealed financial motivation for these accounts. Owners profit from engagement driven by political discussions and disinformation, which boosts views and likes. In countries with low average incomes, such earnings can be significant. Some accounts were also linked to Russian intelligence or influence campaigns.
Making real geolocations public dealt a blow to fake online movements and exposed large-scale foreign participation in US political discourse. Experts note that the information war continues, and users are advised to check sources and prefer public profiles with transparent background information.
