TL;DR:
- X has rolled out a feature showing the country of account holders.
- Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin warns the update could compromise user privacy.
- Crypto executives, including Uniswap's Hayden Adams, criticize the move as "mandatory doxing."
- Users can disable country visibility or switch to regional display in settings.
X, formerly known as Twitter, recently launched a new "About This Account" feature that shows the country where an account is based. Announced by X's director of product, Nikita Bier, the feature was framed as a way to enhance platform integrity and provide users with better verification tools. Users can access the country information by tapping the signup date on profiles, and privacy toggles are included for individuals in countries where revealing location could carry risks.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin expressed concerns about the update, describing it as "risky." While initially acknowledging potential benefits-such as increased transparency on regional user sentiment-Buterin later highlighted mandatory exposure of country data is problematic. He tweeted:
Buterin emphasized that some accounts could attempt to misrepresent their country, but the main issue remains that users are being forced into disclosing sensitive location data without consent.
Crypto Executives Criticize Mandatory Doxing
Other crypto leaders echoed these privacy concerns. Uniswap founder Hayden Adams was particularly vocal, stating:
Andrei David, CTO at decentralized finance platform Summer.fi, also criticized the mandatory nature of the update, noting that privacy-sensitive features should always default to the least revealing option to protect users. He explained:
How Users Can Protect Their Privacy
While X's new country display feature is mandatory by default, users do have tools at their disposal to reduce exposure and protect sensitive information. The platform allows individuals to disable country visibility entirely or switch to a broader region or continent view, giving users more control over how much information is revealed. X community lead Langerius provided a step-by-step explanation for concerned users:
Beyond toggling settings, crypto users and privacy advocates recommend exercising caution with all online interactions, particularly when engaging in financial or crypto-related conversations on social media. The feature could unintentionally expose high-net-worth individuals or crypto investors to potential threats, including targeted phishing, social engineering, or even physical security risks.
Maintaining updated security software, limiting sharing of personal details across platforms, and using two-factor authentication can also reduce risks. While the opt-out feature offers relief, experts stress that proactive awareness is essential-privacy protection is not just a one-click fix but a continuous effort to safeguard sensitive information in an increasingly connected digital ecosystem.
Balancing Transparency and Privacy
X's rollout highlights a broader tension between enhancing transparency on social media and respecting user privacy. The company argues that revealing an account's country fosters trust, combats misinformation, and enables users to better evaluate content authenticity. As product director Nikita Bier noted, the feature is "an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square."
However, mandatory exposure without consent challenges the principle of user autonomy. Vitalik Buterin underscored this risk, noting that while most users remain relatively anonymous, even small amounts of location data can compromise privacy for vulnerable individuals.
This tension is particularly acute in the crypto community, where transparency is valued but user safety is paramount. For instance, mandatory disclosure could make high-profile crypto holders easier targets for malicious actors, illustrating that trust and privacy often exist in a delicate balance.
As social platforms experiment with ways to increase authenticity and transparency, X's challenge will be finding mechanisms that allow verification without imposing undue risks on users. The evolution of these features-and users' responses to them-will likely shape how the platform navigates privacy concerns in future updates.
Looking Ahead
As X rolls out the country display feature globally, the platform faces a critical test of balancing transparency with user privacy. While the feature is intended to enhance content verification and combat misinformation, crypto users and privacy advocates have signaled that mandatory exposure may create unintended risks, particularly for high-net-worth individuals and those in sensitive regions.
Going forward, the platform will need to consider how to refine privacy controls and provide greater user agency. Options could include defaulting to region-level visibility, offering granular opt-in settings for different account types, or even introducing temporary masking for users in high-risk scenarios. The current opt-out mechanism provides some relief, but as Vitalik Buterin highlighted, even limited bits of location data can pose real-world dangers for certain individuals.
The coming months will reveal whether these privacy concerns prompt meaningful adjustments or if mandatory transparency becomes the norm, potentially shaping how social media platforms navigate sensitive user data in the broader Web3 ecosystem.
