X’s new country of origin feature displays the country or region tied to an account on profiles to help users assess credibility. The test will start with internal X team profiles, include privacy toggles, and may substitute region for country in sensitive jurisdictions.
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Displays account country/region on profiles for context and credibility
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Initial trial limited to X team accounts; public testing to follow after feedback
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Includes privacy toggles; EU users may see region instead of country to reduce legal risks
X country of origin feature: learn how X will surface account country/region on profiles, manage privacy, and test with staff first — read the full update. (COINOTAG)
What is X’s country of origin feature?
X’s country of origin feature is a transparency update that surfaces the country (or region, in sensitive jurisdictions) associated with an account on profile pages. The change is aimed at helping users assess account credibility and combat misinformation by giving context about where accounts operate from.
How will the feature work and what did X say?
Head of Product Nikita Bier announced the experiment, noting the feature will first appear on a small number of internal X team profiles to collect feedback. Bier said the platform is “experimenting with displaying new information on profiles, including which country an account is based,” and that options like device details and synced drafts are also under consideration. Bier emphasised privacy: there will be privacy toggles, and in jurisdictions where speech can carry penalties, X may display a region instead of a country.
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 based… pic.twitter.com/OYgT1OiJdA
— Nikita Bier (@nikitabier) October 14, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the country of origin tag expose users to legal or political risk?
X acknowledges risk concerns and plans privacy toggles so users can control visibility. Bier indicated opting out may itself be visible on a profile and that in the EU the platform may show regions rather than specific countries to mitigate legal exposure while preserving context for readers.
How will the trial rollout be managed?
The company will begin with internal accounts to gather feedback before broader public testing. This phased approach is intended to refine presentation, privacy controls, and any device-detail options mentioned by product leadership.
Context and regulatory developments
X’s transparency push occurs amid regulatory scrutiny and platform compliance debates. In Australia, X and its leadership have contested new child safety rules that would prohibit users under 16 from using major social platforms from December 10; X has urged a delay, requesting implementation start at least six months after regulators issue final guidance. Australia’s eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant has said enforcement will begin with monitoring for “systemic failures” rather than immediate fines; however, companies failing to meet obligations could face penalties up to $50 million under the new legislation.
How are public bodies reacting to platform issues?
Beyond product changes, public institutions are altering how they communicate. In Denmark, local and national police forces have stopped using X for operational messages, opting instead for the national news wire Ritzau and official websites. Ritzau’s CEO Jacob Kwon framed the move as restoring direct, reliable delivery of information to news desks. René Gyldensten, head of communications for the National Police, said misinformation and algorithmic issues made X unreliable for official emergency communications.
Implications for users and organizations
The country/region tag aims to increase situational awareness for readers evaluating information provenance. For journalists, emergency services, and public bodies, the feature may change how official messages are received and verified. Private users and vulnerable populations should review privacy toggle options carefully; organisations should plan communications assuming some audiences will still prefer legacy channels or official feeds.
Synced drafts and device details — what else is coming?
Bier also referenced the return of synced drafts—unposted drafts created on mobile accessible from the web—absent from the platform for nearly a decade. The team is also discussing whether to show device-origin details for posts, a capability previously available on the platform under earlier leadership. These additions are part of a broader push to give readers more signals for judging authenticity.
Key Takeaways
- Transparency boost: X will test showing country or region on profiles to help users evaluate credibility.
- Privacy controls: Configurable toggles are planned; opting out may be visible and EU users may see regions instead of countries.
- Operational impact: Public bodies (e.g., Danish police) are reassessing use of the platform; regulators in Australia are enforcing new safety rules with potential fines up to $50 million.
Conclusion
COINOTAG reports that X’s country of origin feature is an experiment aimed at improving transparency and reducing the spread of misinformation by adding contextual account data to profiles. The rollout will begin internally and expand with user feedback, supported by privacy toggles and regional substitutions where necessary. Organisations and individual users should monitor the trial, review privacy settings, and consider diversified communication channels as the feature and related regulatory pressures evolve. (Published: October 15, 2025. Updated: October 15, 2025. Author: COINOTAG)
