X Rolls Out Mandatory Information About Origin Country Labels on Profiles to Fight Bots
X Rolls Out Mandatory Country Labels on Profiles to Fight Bots, aiming to make it easier for users to judge whether an account is genuine or part of coordinated misinformation. The platform will display the country an account is based in using signals like IP address and posting patterns. The rollout begins with internal testing on employee accounts next week before going wider.
X says showing these details will help people make informed choices while engaging with profiles. For example, if an account claims to be from a US state but the new X Rolls Out Mandatory Country Labels on Profiles to Fight Bots feature shows activity from another country, users may question whether the profile is real or trying to influence discussions. Signals like multiple username changes or overseas app downloads may also raise doubts, especially during political events.
The feature will appear under the About this account section. In European Union countries, the display may show regions instead of specific countries to comply with regulations. Users will be allowed to opt out, but the platform says profiles that disable this information will be clearly flagged.
Privacy concerns remain
Some users worry that revealing account locations could create risks in countries where speaking freely has consequences. X says it will adjust the display for such regions to protect users. Still, critics argue that even regional labels may expose activists, journalists or whistleblowers.
Supporters say the step helps expose coordinated networks spreading propaganda. The update follows a recent bot purge where X removed 1.7 million accounts involved in reply spam.
Nikita Bier, head of product at X and an advisor to the platform, said the company wants users to verify the authenticity of accounts when reading content on X. He added that the new labels will first appear on a small set of profiles belonging to X team members to gather feedback before a wider rollout.
Similar moves by other platforms
The idea isn’t new. Instagram already displays details like the age of an account, username changes and country information under About this profile. X Rolls Out Mandatory Country Labels on Profiles to Fight Bots brings a similar approach to the platform but focuses more on countering deceptive foreign influence.
Key highlights
• Labels based on IP and activity patterns
• Region-only display in EU countries
• Opt-out available but will be visibly flagged
• First tested on employee accounts before full rollout
• Part of broader measures to curb bot activity
X Rolls Out Mandatory Country Labels on Profiles to Fight Bots is expected to help improve trust, although experts warn that bad actors may still find ways to bypass these checks.
