X Starts Rolling Out a Feature That Detects If You’re Using a VPN – Here’s Everything We Know
Published
- Feature Rollout: X has started releasing a tool that warns when users appear to be on VPNs.
- Purpose: The feature aims to curb troll accounts by showing potentially inaccurate profile locations.
- Concerns: Privacy experts warn VPN detection risks users in restrictive regions and raises safety issues.
X (formerly Twitter) has begun rolling out a new feature that may reveal when users are browsing the platform through a VPN or proxy. The update, which started appearing on November 21, 2025, is part of the company’s wider effort to curb troll accounts and increase transparency.
The platform’s Head of Product, Mikita Bier, previously announced that X planned to show more information about user accounts, “including which country the account is based,” to reduce misuse and suspicious activity. Now, some parts of that plan are starting to appear publicly.
What the New Feature Does
According to early previews and user reports, X will display a warning on user profiles if it detects they are connected through a VPN or proxy. The warning notes that the country or region shown on the profile “may not be accurate.”
For now, Bier says users can only see their own country, but this is temporary. A full rollout, where others can see the information, is expected soon.
Importantly, the platform is not blocking VPN usage. Users can still access X through VPNs or other privacy tools as usual.
Why X Is Doing This
The stated purpose is to discourage anonymous troll accounts that use VPNs to hide their location or identity. By showing that a VPN might be in use, X hopes to make it harder for such accounts to evade detection.
However, critics argue that this approach could unintentionally put certain users at risk.
Privacy Advocates Raise Concerns
The announcement has sparked strong reactions from privacy experts, activists, and VPN companies.
Isik Mater, Director of Research at NetBlocks, said the change could be dangerous for users in restrictive environments. “People use VPNs to stay safe in repressive environments, not to hide for fun,” she wrote, warning that journalists and activists could be exposed to increased scrutiny.
Will This Be the End of Private Browsing on X?
It’s too early to say. The impact will depend heavily on how X finalizes and expands the feature.
If warnings appear only on a user’s own profile, the effect may be minimal. But if X plans to make VPN detection visible to everyone, this could significantly change how activists, journalists, and privacy-conscious individuals use the platform.
As of now, X has not provided additional details or clarified how the detection system works.
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