Faced with an invasion of bots, social network X is considering a drastic measure: curtailing the anonymity of its users. This decision, although controversial, aims to restore trust in the platform. But what will be the impact on privacy? Find out what is at stake with this new strategy.
Three things you need to know
- X will expose personal information such as location and username history to differentiate humans from bots.
- Nearly 76% of X’s traffic during the 2024 Super Bowl came from bots, a consequence of strategic choices made since Elon Musk’s takeover.
- X is adopting an approach inspired by Instagram but relying on technical metadata, which raises privacy concerns.
The problem of bots on X
The social network X is facing a worrying proliferation of automated accounts that distort interactions. During major events such as the 2024 Super Bowl, a study by the firm CHEQ revealed that 76% of traffic to advertisers came from these bots. This phenomenon highlights the challenge the platform faces in maintaining meaningful human activity.
Since Elon Musk’s takeover, moderation teams have been drastically reduced, leading to an increase in unwanted content and recurring security issues. The reactivation of fraudulent accounts by corrupt employees is one example of these failures.
New transparency strategy
To regain control, X plans to introduce an “About this account” section that will display personal information such as location, username history, and profile creation date. This increased transparency is intended to distinguish real users from bots. However, it raises questions about the implications for user privacy.
Users will have the option to refuse to share their data, but this refusal will be publicly displayed on their profile. This decision could lead to the stigmatization of users who choose to remain anonymous, relegating them to the status of “second-class digital citizens.”
Legal and technical implications
Aware of legal constraints, particularly in Europe with the GDPR, X is committed to displaying users’ region rather than country to minimize risks related to personal data protection. Although this approach is similar to that of Instagram, X will use technical metadata for increased reliability.
However, this method could be perceived as a form of surveillance, raising concerns about its effectiveness against pornographic bots and other harmful content. The balance between security and privacy remains delicate.
Historical context of X
Formerly known as Twitter, X was founded in 2006 and quickly established itself as a major microblogging platform. In 2022, its acquisition by Elon Musk marked a turning point, leading to various strategic and organizational changes. Since then, the platform has sought to adapt to new technological and economic realities, while facing growing challenges in terms of moderation and security.
By turning to transparency-focused solutions, X hopes to restore the trust of its users and advertisers. However, balancing innovation and privacy remains an ongoing challenge for this iconic platform.