X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run • Hacker News Board

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#11

Post by tracerbulletx » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:48 PM UTC

agentifysh wrote: post #7

X obviously isn't the only platform where this is taking place and it is curious as to why they rolled it back. how open are you to a US citizen verified town square online? You'd have to scan your passport or driver license to post memes and stuff.

The propaganda apparatus will adapt if that becomes common so its not a permanent solution but it's nice for now.

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#12

Post by neaden » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:48 PM UTC

tehjoker wrote: post #2

is there any technical reason why us accounts might be identified as foreign or is this really a foreign play or us people hiring ppl outside the country

I doubt for the most part it's people being hired. I think mostly it's probably people in low income countries who make a living posting as different identity on social media.

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#13

Post by Zigurd » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:49 PM UTC

This is another piece of a mosaic that is going to reveal that grey zone warfare by Russia against the west has much larger scope than most people are aware of. The UK National Crime Agency uncovered a huge money laundering enterprise based on the kinds of crime that fly under the national security radar in most places.

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#14

Post by p1necone » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:49 PM UTC

agentifysh wrote: post #7

X obviously isn't the only platform where this is taking place and it is curious as to why they rolled it back. how open are you to a US citizen verified town square online? You'd have to scan your passport or driver license to post memes and stuff.

I'm not really surprised it was rolled back given Musks political leanings. I am surprised it was even added in the first place though, surely this outcome was obvious?

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#15

Post by seizethecheese » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:50 PM UTC

bparsons wrote: post #10

It truly is the sewer of the internet.

You think this is unique to X? If anything, it’s unique they’re exposing this.

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#16

Post by exegete » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:50 PM UTC

neaden wrote: post #12

tehjoker wrote: post #2

is there any technical reason why us accounts might be identified as foreign or is this really a foreign play or us people hiring ppl outside the country

I doubt for the most part it's people being hired. I think mostly it's probably people in low income countries who make a living posting as different identity on social media.

How are they making a living posting political propaganda of they aren’t hired?

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#17

Post by abirch » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:51 PM UTC

p1necone wrote: post #14

agentifysh wrote: post #7

X obviously isn't the only platform where this is taking place and it is curious as to why they rolled it back. how open are you to a US citizen verified town square online? You'd have to scan your passport or driver license to post memes and stuff.

I'm not really surprised it was rolled back given Musks political leanings. I am surprised it was even added in the first place though, surely this outcome was obvious?

Seems like they would have had the statistics. It's a shame that they rolled it back. I'm not necessarily an Elon fan but I respected this feature immensely.

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#18

Post by BhavdeepSethi » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:51 PM UTC

First, allow anyone to sign up for the blue check mark for $8. Verified accounts loses its value and Twitter gets flooded with fake accounts and foreign run accounts. Now, try to fix it with by showing users country of origin. Now, these users will try to figure out ways to bypass it.

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#19

Post by duxup » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:51 PM UTC

I never quite "got" twitter, it was never fun for me to participate on. It's telling / disturbing that folks had such trust in random accounts ...

Re: X's new country-of-origin feature reveals many 'US' accounts to be foreign-run

#20

Post by agentifysh » Sun, Nov 23, 2025, 11:52 PM UTC

p1necone wrote: post #14

agentifysh wrote: post #7

X obviously isn't the only platform where this is taking place and it is curious as to why they rolled it back. how open are you to a US citizen verified town square online? You'd have to scan your passport or driver license to post memes and stuff.

I'm not really surprised it was rolled back given Musks political leanings. I am surprised it was even added in the first place though, surely this outcome was obvious?

I don't think so because it seems both sides were engaged with non-American IPs running hugely popular accounts and it makes sense, why wouldn't you play both sides when you are paid for attention?

I'm thinking Nikita is falling out with Elon as they both seem to have diverging goals with the platform. Advertisement revenues on X isn't that great and neither are conversions on X so you can't really get consistent payouts that match Youtube. Premium subscriptions don't bring in as much dough as advertising did during Twitter days.