Elon Musk’s X (formerly Twitter) recently rolled out a new location feature intended to improve platform “authenticity” by labeling user locations. However, an investigation by Euronews Next reveals that many accounts promoting far-right European ideologies are actually based in Asia, Australia, and other regions outside the continent. This exposes a disconnect between the stated ideologies of these accounts and their true geographic origins.
The Discrepancy Between Ideology and Location
The location feature relies on IP addresses, app store regions, and user behavior to determine where an account is operating from. The findings show that accounts using slogans like “Make Europe Great Again” are posting from countries like Vietnam, Pakistan, and Australia.
One account, with over 17,000 followers, advocates for extreme anti-immigrant policies while being based in “South Asia.” Another account operating from Vietnam posts inflammatory rhetoric against Algeria and dehumanizes African children. A third account, under the name “Make Europa Snow,” broadcasts white supremacist messages from Australia, even expressing nostalgia for Nazi Germany.
The Implications of Foreign Interference
The presence of these accounts outside Europe raises questions about the authenticity of online extremist movements. Foreign actors may be deliberately spreading divisive content to influence political discourse in Europe, sow discord, or amplify existing tensions. This also suggests that some of these accounts may be part of coordinated disinformation campaigns, rather than genuine organic movements.
X’s Efforts to Combat Bots and Inauthentic Activity
X has been working to combat bots and inauthentic accounts, including a $1 annual fee for new users in certain countries to verify they are not bots. The company has also conducted sweeps, removing 1.7 million bot accounts engaged in spam activity. X’s head of product, Nikita Bier, claims the location feature will soon achieve 99.99% accuracy, but acknowledges that travel and temporary relocation can impact reported locations.
The platform’s help center bans activity aimed at manipulating the platform, including spam and synthetic media, but the existence of these foreign-based far-right accounts suggests that enforcement may not be entirely effective.
The fact that extremist ideologies are being spread by accounts operating from outside their supposed target region underscores the complex interplay between online radicalization, foreign interference, and the challenges of moderating social media platforms.
