Khaberni - The feature launched by the platform "X" ignited a wide wave of controversy after it revealed a mismatch between the actual geographical location of many accounts and their declared identities, quickly turning it into a tool used by adversaries to expose their opponents and accuse them of running electronic armies. The decision of platform "X" to add new details about the active user accounts, including the date of joining, geographical location, and the number of times the account name was changed, sparked a wide debate in the digital space over the weekend, especially after the complications that accompanied its implementation.
"X" clarified that this step came as part of its effort to increase transparency, and Nikita Perr, the head of product at the platform, wrote: "This is an important first step to ensuring the integrity of the global public arena. We plan to provide many other tools for users to verify the accuracy of the content they see on the platform."
Reservations on the feature, nonetheless, some users expressed their reservations, affirming that revealing the location of accounts could endanger those living under oppressive regimes and restrict freedom of expression. Others considered the decision a form of "forced disclosure of information", while some pointed to the possibility of circumventing the feature by using VPNs through other countries.
The transformation into an electronic weapon on the other hand, the feature shockingly revealed that dozens of active accounts do not match their actual location with their declared identity.
It quickly turned into a war tool among hostile parties, including parties, countries, and governments, which used it to "expose" their opponents and throw accusations about using "electronic flies" to spread propaganda or propaganda.
Examples reveal investigations that many accounts promoting the slogan "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) linked to President Donald Trump, are managed from outside the United States.
It was revealed that the "MAGA NATION" account, which describes itself as a supporter of "America First" and has about 400,000 followers, operates from a country in Eastern Europe outside the European Union.
The feature also showed that the "America First" account, established in March with about 70,000 followers, is managed from Bangladesh.
In related context, reports by the "Jerusalem Post" indicated that many pages and accounts that publish content hostile to Israel and support the Palestinian cause, are managed from external locations, such as Turkey and Pakistan.
The newspaper cited examples including the "Silenced Sirs" account, which claims to be Lebanese, while it was found that its actual location is the Republic of Congo.
It also revealed that the "Tiberius" account, which claims to be affiliated with a British journalist leftist hostile to Israel, is managed from Thailand and has changed its name 24 times since 2018.
In addition, the reports claimed that the account of the American activist pro-Iran, Jackson Hinkle, who is a real person, is managed from Burkina Faso, while it turned out that the account of the activist Mariana Times, who shows her support for Israel according to her posts, is managed from India and not from America or Europe as might be assumed.
Following the uproar, the company removed data about the location of some of the accounts' creation, and Perr said that the information "was not 100% accurate", especially for the old accounts, and he explained that the company intends to republish them by Tuesday.
