On Friday, Elon Musk’s platform launched a new X transparency tool that shows where accounts originate and how they operate, showing that several big MAGA accounts were run from abroad, raising new concerns about foreign authority on X.
The X transparency tool update was meant to help users understand better who is behind the profiles they are interacting with. But within hours, people started checking political rivals, raising fresh questions over long-running X disinformation campaigns.
Foreign Influence On X
The new X About this Account feature shows when the account was created, its location, and the frequency with which its username has changed. Many MAGA-branded accounts intending to represent American voters were found to operate from countries like Russia, India, and Nigeria.
“This is easily one of the greatest days on this platform,” Democratic influencer Harry Sisson wrote. “Seeing all of these MAGA accounts get exposed as foreign actors trying to destroy the United States is a complete vindication of Democrats, like myself and many on here, who have been warning about this.”
One account, MAGANationX, had almost 400,000 followers, was from Eastern Europe. The discovery added to recent concerns about the X transparency lack.
In another case, IvankaNews, having 1 million followers, came to light operating from Nigeria. It added more pressure on the platform to improve the X covert accounts transparency.
“This is total armageddon for the online right,” said influencer Micah Erfan. “It’s looking like half of their large accounts were foreigners posing as Americans all along.”
Questions Around Accuracy and Impact
The head of product at X, Nikita Bier, conceded it launched with “a few rough edges.” The feature also suffered brief outages for users, reinforcing ongoing doubts about the X transparency verification.
Journalist Brett Meiselas said the leaks show why stronger X anti-disinformation tools are needed to protect political conversations online.
Some users argued that such findings call into question the X account integrity, especially during election seasons.
Influencer Ed Krassenstein questioned why several MAGA influencers are from outside the US, hinting the possibility of them working for foreign governments. His comments reflected a broader fear about X fake political accounts shaping public debate.
Researchers describe the trend as fitting in with a long-running cycle of foreign-run X political propaganda spreading through major online platforms. Others spread warnings that the activity presented some resemblance to early forms of X digital espionage, in which outside influencers try to quietly influence US voters.
The controversy has sparked fresh public pressure for greater X platform transparency, amid user suspicions about how political voices are digitally curbed. As more discussion is running on this subject, the questions are whether the X transparency tool will remain a meaningful step toward clarity or simply mark the beginning of a much larger problem involving hidden online actors.
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