Vitalik Buterin Criticizes X for Forcing Users to Reveal Their Country of Origin
Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin has voiced sharp criticism of a new feature introduced by X that publicly displays the country from which each account operates. Buterin called the decision “risky,” echoing growing concerns from the crypto community about user privacy and potential security implications.The controversy began shortly after X rolled out the feature without requesting consent from its user base. Profiles across the platform now show a country label beneath the account name, a change that immediately raised alarms among privacy advocates, activists and individuals living in politically sensitive regions.
X introduces the feature without user approval
The feature was announced by X’s Director of Product, Nikita Bier, who described it as an initiative aimed at improving platform integrity and helping users evaluate the credibility of information. According to Bier, revealing the country of origin would provide “context” for conversations and reduce the spread of misleading narratives.However, the rollout happened unilaterally. Accounts were updated automatically, and users were not given the opportunity to opt out. For millions of people who rely on anonymity or pseudonymity — including journalists, dissidents, whistleblowers and activists — the exposure created immediate concerns.
Buterin: The change is dangerous and oversimplifies global identity
Buterin initially approached the new feature with measured curiosity. He acknowledged that some accounts might attempt to “pretend to be from other countries” once the system was live, and that the added transparency could theoretically reveal trends in how different communities perceive global issues.But after observing the reaction across X, he aligned himself with critics who warned that the change presents real risks. In his comments, Buterin emphasized that simple country labels cannot capture the complexity of digital identity and may lead to harmful assumptions. He argued that revealing one’s location, even at the country level, introduces unnecessary exposure in a world where political climates, economic stability and social tensions vary dramatically across borders.
A privacy threat for vulnerable users
The crypto community reacted strongly to the update, pointing out that forced location disclosure can have severe consequences for individuals in restrictive or hostile jurisdictions. Many users rely on anonymity to discuss topics that are politically sensitive, related to financial freedom, or connected to personal security.Critics also highlight that the feature increases the risk of targeted harassment, discrimination or profiling based on geopolitical biases. In countries where internet expression is tightly monitored, even broad geographic labels could expose individuals to government scrutiny.
Concerns about data misuse and unintended consequences
Buterin noted that features designed to enhance transparency often come with unintended side effects. Publicly attaching geographic identity to online conversation can distort dialogue, create tribalism, or lead to stereotyping. Users may start dismissing arguments not on their merits but based on where the speaker is assumed to be located.There are also worries that malicious actors could use geographic metadata to amplify disinformation campaigns or exploit regional tensions. For a platform with hundreds of millions of users, even a seemingly small design choice can shape global discourse in unpredictable ways.
A call for user choice and stronger privacy defaults
In his remarks, Buterin implied that X should adopt a more cautious and user-driven approach. Transparency tools should be optional, not mandatory, and users should have full control over what information is displayed publicly. He urged platforms to prioritize user autonomy rather than forcing identity-related metadata into profiles by default.For a social network heavily used by crypto developers, activists and global communities, privacy is not a feature — it is a requirement. Buterin’s criticism underscores a growing sentiment that social media companies must treat geographic data with the same sensitivity as any other personal information.
Editorial Team — CoinBotLab