When X introduced its new “About This Account” tab – meant to enhance transparency – the platform likely did not anticipate the shockwave it would unleash. Within hours, users discovered that dozens of viral political accounts, shaping American conversations and amassing millions of views, were geographically located far outside the United States. What was designed as a quiet trust-building update quickly turned into a map of global influence operations. At YourNewsClub, we see this not simply as a UI improvement but as a revealing moment for the entire infrastructure of political communication online.
Owen Radner, our analyst who studies digital-age infrastructure as a network of power-transmission routes, explains the significance succinctly: “when X publicly displays the physical origin of an account, it illuminates the conduits of influence themselves. It doesn’t just change a profile page – it changes the perceived direction of political energy.” That’s why revelations that accounts like TRUMP_ARMY_, presenting themselves as American patriots, were actually registered in India – and had changed their usernames multiple times – created such a strong reaction.
Similarly, IvankaNews_, a fan account with over a million followers, turned out to be based in Nigeria. Both profiles participated actively in political messaging and likely benefited from X’s monetization program, which rewards premium users who surpass five million impressions in three months. At the same time, anti-Trump accounts portraying themselves as U.S. liberals were revealed to be operating from Kenya.
Another cluster involved accounts pushing pro-Scottish-independence content. According to the new transparency data, these profiles were using X for Android in Iran, despite showing the Netherlands as their public location, accompanied by a VPN warning. The pattern across all cases highlights a defining feature of the modern online environment: political narratives aren’t confined by borders – they are shaped by transnational networks with varying motives.
Freddie Camacho, YourNewsClub’s analyst focused on the political economy of computational supply chains, emphasizes the structural incentives at play: “some accounts are run by political operators, others by commercial content farms. Turning America’s culture wars into revenue streams has become a business model – and monetization on X amplifies that incentive.” The presence of blue checkmarks on many exposed accounts only deepens user confusion, creating the illusion of verification where, in reality, it simply signals a paid subscription.
Despite X claiming 99% accuracy, experts warn that malicious actors will adapt quickly. VPNs, proxy registrations, and industrial-scale account creation allow operators to mask locations with relative ease. While the new transparency feature is an invaluable tool for journalists and researchers, it is not a complete solution and cannot eliminate systemic manipulations on its own.
At YourNewsClub, we draw several conclusions. First, the feature has already shifted user behavior: people are increasingly checking an account’s origin before trusting political content. Second, the architecture of influence in social media has become unmistakably global – American political discourse is no longer shaped solely by Americans. Third, X’s monetization model introduces powerful financial motives for deception, highlighting the need for stricter identity verification around high-impact political accounts.
Our recommendations are straightforward. Users should consult the “About This Account” tab before engaging with political narratives. Journalists and moderators should treat the data as a starting point, not a definitive assessment. X itself must strengthen verification frameworks for influential accounts and increase transparency in its monetization logic. At Your News Club, we believe the future of political communication online will depend not only on what is being said, but on where it originates – and which invisible infrastructures of influence stand behind every viral post.