Aimed at bots: X to reveal additional user info, including VPN use
X, formerly known as Twitter, might soon introduce a profile notice showing if a user is connected via VPN. This change follows the company’s announcement last month that it plans to make more details about users visible, including their country of residence, to help others determine the authenticity of their posts.
The issue first arose in October when Mikita Bier, X’s Head of Product, announced that user profiles would start showing details like the account creation date, how many times the username has been changed, when the last change happened, and the listed location. Bier explained that the aim was to curb inauthentic behavior on X, mainly targeting anonymous troublemakers.
When you read content on X, you should be able to verify its authenticity. This is critical to getting a pulse on important issues happening in the world.
As part of that, we’re experimenting with displaying new information on profiles, including which country an account is… pic.twitter.com/OYgT1OiJdA
— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) October 14, 2025
According to reports, once the “About Your Account” feature goes live, X will display a notice for profiles that appear to be masking their location with a VPN. The alert states, “One of our partners has indicated that you may be connecting via a proxy, such as a VPN, which may change the country or region that is displayed on your profile.”
If a user continues using a VPN while confirming their location, the profile will show a message to others that reads, “Country or region may not be accurate.”
X has not yet provided clarity on how the system will function or whether users will be required to make this information public. One user asked Bier if it would be possible to avoid confirming their country due to privacy concerns. Bier responded that privacy controls will be available, but accounts that enable them will likely have that fact noted on their profiles.
X has undergone several significant updates in 2025 as owner Elon Musk attempts to boost engagement, which was reportedly down year over year in September. These changes include introducing a new Video Tab for US users, refreshing the interface, and removing 1.7 million bot accounts. Meanwhile, former CEO Linda Yaccarino stepped down after two years leading the company.
