According to CNET, X is expected to begin displaying whether someone may be using a VPN directly on user profiles as part of an “About Your Account” feature. The company’s head of product, Nikita Bier, first mentioned this in an October post about transparency, with subsequent follow ups from others showing how the information would appear. The feature would warn profile owners that their VPN use has been detected and may affect how location information is displayed to others. It’s unclear if this is already being tested, but the display would include a notice that “Country or region may not be accurate” to people viewing the profile. X representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the feature’s implementation timeline.
Privacy concerns emerge
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just about catching people who want to watch Netflix from other countries. For many users, VPNs are essential safety tools. We’re talking about journalists working in hostile environments, activists facing government persecution, or people trying to avoid stalkers and harassers. Basically, anyone who needs to hide their actual location for legitimate safety reasons could be outed by this feature.
And that’s exactly what VPN companies are worried about. NordVPN’s CTO Marijus Briedis told TechRadar that putting a “visible flag” on VPN users could make it easier to single out journalists, activists, or users in high-risk countries as “suspicious” just because they care about privacy. Surfshark representatives expressed similar concerns. So we’re not just talking about privacy enthusiasts here – we’re talking about people whose physical safety might depend on their online anonymity.
Transparency versus safety
Now, I get that X wants more transparency on its platform. But there’s a huge difference between showing when an account was created or how many times a username changed versus revealing someone’s privacy tools. One is about account history – the other could literally put people in danger.
Think about it: if you’re trying to avoid an abusive ex-partner and using a VPN to hide your location, having X announce “Hey, this person is using privacy tools!” could undermine your entire safety strategy. Or what about citizens in countries where criticizing the government can land you in prison? Suddenly their VPN usage becomes a red flag for authorities.
Implementation questions remain
The VPN industry’s reaction has been concern tempered by uncertainty – nobody knows exactly how this will be implemented. Will it be a subtle note buried in profile settings? Or a prominent badge that anyone can see? Will it distinguish between different types of VPN usage? These details matter enormously.
And honestly, how accurate will this detection even be? VPN technology keeps evolving, and many premium services are getting better at masking their usage. I wonder if this will just become a cat-and-mouse game where VPN providers develop new ways to avoid detection while X tries to keep up.
What’s clear is that this move represents another step in X’s ongoing transformation under Elon Musk’s ownership. The platform seems to be prioritizing certain types of transparency, but the collateral damage to legitimate privacy needs could be significant. We’ll have to wait and see how this actually rolls out – and whether the backlash forces them to reconsider.
