World
‘Based in Russia’: What X’s new location tool does and doesn’t reveal
Dozens of pro-Russia and anti-EU accounts on X have been accused of misleading users after the platform rolled out a new transparency feature revealing where profiles are posting from, how they downloaded the app and when they joined.
The “about this account” tab, now visible on every profile, shows a user’s reported location. X warns that the feature may not be accurate, and can be affected by VPNs, travel or temporary relocations.
“This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square. We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify the authenticity of the content they see on X,” announced the platform’s head of product, Nikita Bier, amidst longstanding criticism that fake and automated accounts flood X with misinformation.
The Cube, Euronews’ fact-checking team, could not independently verify the locations of X profiles.
Russian war bloggers ‘post from Ireland’
Since the update, X users have identified a cluster of Russian war bloggers whose accounts repeatedly post updates from inside Russia, yet X lists their locations as Ireland.
One example is Maryana Naumova, a Russian powerlifter turned “war correspondent” with more than 14,000 followers, whose stream of content shows her interviewing Russian soldiers and civilians.
Her most recent posts include clips linked from Rutube, a Russian video platform, claiming to locate her in the Russian town of Gorodets.
However, X’s data says Naumova is not in Russia, but in Ireland. X warns that her account shows signs she could be using a VPN that might inaccurately represent her actual location.
She’s one of several Russian war bloggers whose locations say they are in Russia, but whose X data traces them back to Ireland. Combined, they have thousands of followers.
Is the tool reliable?
Bier described the rollout as having some “rough edges”, adding that incorrect details would be “updated periodically based on best available information”.
By 24 November, he claimed the tool was “nearly 99.9% accurate”.
But Euronews can confirm notable inconsistencies. Over the weekend, the official Euronews account was incorrectly listed as being located in the United States. By Tuesday, this had shifted to France, where the company was founded and still has offices.
Experts have also noted that the platform provides no access to methods used to determine a user’s location, making its accuracy difficult to independently verify.
“It can be a useful tool for improving transparency as long as the data is accurate,” Philipp Darius, a postdoctoral researcher at the Hertie School’s Centre for Digital Governance, told The Cube. “But X should restore researchers’ access to its Research API and make the location data available there as well.”
“However, depending on the granularity, it can also cause privacy and security risks to users, for example, for journalists’ accounts in authoritarian states,” he added. “Without insight into the processes, it’s quite difficult. If X doesn’t share its methods, the data can’t be tested outside the platform.”
Darius also warned that a clustering of multiple accounts in one location could indicate a large VPN provider operating there, rather than provide clues about a user’s real location.
“Many Russian bloggers are very active online, but in Russia, many social media platforms are blocked. So people often use VPN services to re-route their internet traffic,” he told The Cube.
But whilst some users might be hiding their true location for personal or security reasons, others may be part of coordinated efforts.
“There can be many motives and backgrounds possible,” Darius said. “So this can reach from individuals, to organised influence campaigns, such as disinformation campaigns, to individuals with financial motivations, maybe to build a higher follower count and monetise posts.”
‘Unfiltered insights’ on Russia
The update has nevertheless provoked X users to point out how several large anonymous accounts have locations that do not necessarily match what they post, and raised questions about potentially fake and automated accounts.
A collection of accounts that post regular updates and photos about Russia, President Vladimir Putin and negative posts and videos about Ukraine and its politicians are all, according to X, not based in Russia.
Moscow has long been accused of sponsoring anonymous internet political commentators and trolls to orchestrate large-scale disinformation campaigns that spread pro-Putin and Kremlin propaganda online.
One account with more than 225,000 followers titled “RussiaNews” claims to be based in St Petersburg. X shows its location as the United Arab Emirates. The account has changed its username 10 times since it joined.
Another, a self-proclaimed spoof account titled “Vladimir Putin News”, is based in South Asia, according to X, although it clarifies in its biography that it isn’t based in Russia. A third, titled “Russian Army” with more than 69,000 followers, is also based in south Asia.
‘European’ accounts not in Europe?
The Cube has also found several accounts promoting negative content about migrants and the European Union whose locations X lists as outside Europe, despite the profiles presenting themselves as European.
One account under the name of Laure Krause posts in German under the tagline “News from Europe and the World”. Its updates cover a wide range of topics and regularly highlight crimes committed by asylum seekers or migrants.
Krause’s supposed channel says it’s based in “the EU”. However, X’s location data places it in western Asia.
Similarly, the account “Based Hungary” that claims to be based in northwestern Romania, and frequently shares anti-EU posts aligned with Hungarian government narratives, is listed by X as being in North America. The account has changed its username nine times since 2022.
Monetisation incentives
The majority of the accounts the Cube found to have locations incompatible with their profiles also had blue ticks and therefore subscribed to X’s premium feature, which allows users to potentially earn money from posts.
X users need to have at least 500 verified followers and 5 million impressions in the last three months to start monetising their content.
According to Darius, financial motives could indeed be a possible reason an account may be utilising a politically divisive topic from a totally different location to drive up clicks.
Political motives or organised influence campaigns are, however, not out of reach. Accounts posting from unexpected locations, particularly the Global South, may reflect the presence of English-speaking click workers employed at lower labour costs for information campaigns.
“Many of these false accounts present themselves as, for example, a Trump supporter and a mother from the Midwest, but they may actually be steered by foreign actors with strategic interests,” Darius said.
“Platforms have historically failed to conduct proper accountability checks on profiles or advertisements, especially when stricter checks might reduce their earnings,” he added. Identity verification on social media has also been criticised as weak, with multiple opportunities for users to exploit loopholes.
Overall, the tool may have temporarily increased transparency, but it is likely easy to circumvent.
“Whenever new rules are introduced, people adapt,” Darius said. “We may see more users relying on VPNs and routing their traffic through the United States.”
“But that comes with greater friction, because US IP addresses are more heavily monitored and often trigger additional CAPTCHAs or security checks,” he added.
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At least 58 states and territories are contaminated by anti-personnel mines, the UN rights chief said on Tuesday, with heavy civilian casualties in Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine.
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“It is deeply troubling that almost 30 years since the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty was adopted, these explosive weapons continue to kill and injure people, often decades after they were placed,” Volker Türk said in a statement.
“It is essential that all states recommit to putting an end to the production, use and transfer of these weapons and redouble their efforts to cooperate in clearing mines already placed.”
Türk produced a report on the situation, drawing on information from governments, NGOs, humanitarian organisations and civil society.
At least 945 people were killed and 4,325 injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war in 2024 alone, it said, citing the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor.
“Among victims where the status as military or civilian was known, civilians made up approximately 90% of all recorded casualties in 2024,” the report said.
The states with the highest number of casualties in 2024 were Myanmar with 2,029, Syria with 1,015, then Afghanistan with 624, followed by Ukraine, Nigeria, Mali, Yemen and Burkina Faso, which each recorded more than 200 casualties.
In a separate statement, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines said mines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions, killed or injured more than 5,000 people in 2025, again with the vast majority being civilians.
Türk’s office noted that children make up more than 40% of all civilian casualties of anti-personnel mines recorded since 1999.
Besides killing and maiming, anti-personnel mines turn areas into no-go zones, Türk’s office said, hampering rights, prolonging displacement and stopping land from being used for agriculture.
While the Ottawa mine ban convention has 162 states parties, Türk noted that other countries with considerable stockpiles are not yet members.
Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland recently withdrew and Ukraine is suspending its implementation.
“States that have not yet ratified the treaty should promptly do so and those that have withdrawn should quickly rejoin,” said Türk.
He hailed Lebanon’s recent decision to join the Ottawa convention, despite the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
Türk’s report said that in the seven years to 2025, contributions to the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action sharply decreased from $125 million to $46 million (€107 million to €39 million).
Additional sources • AFP
World
Studiocanal Reveals Sales on Multiple Cannes Market Titles, Including ‘The Midnight Library,’ ‘Words of Love,’ ‘Another Day’
Studiocanal has revealed that it has closed sales on multiple films that either premiered at the Cannes Film Festival or are on its development and production slate, including “The Midnight Library.” The company also said it is negotiating presales on the new Paddington animated film.
“The Midnight Library,” starring and produced by Academy Award nominee Florence Pugh, emerged as one of the hottest titles at this year’s Cannes Film Market. After a competitive bidding war between studios, the film sold to Paramount Pictures for North America and numerous foreign territories.
Beyond Paramount’s territories, “The Midnight Library” will be distributed by Scanbox in Scandinavia, Sun Africa Group/MultiChoice in South Africa, and Filmcoopi in Switzerland. Studiocanal will release the film across its territory footprint, including the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Benelux, Australia and New Zealand.
Studiocanal also closed deals for Rudi Rosenberg’s Un Certain Regard film “Words of Love,” Volker Schlöndorff’s “Visitation,” Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s “Violette,” Jeanne Herry’s Cannes competition selection “Another Day,” Simon Stone’s “Elsinore,” Jonathan Schey’s “Everybody Wants to F*ck Me,” Danny Boyle’s “Ink” and Fred Cavayé’s “Les Misérables.” Studiocanal will release the films in its territories.
Sales for the films are as follows:
“Elsinore”
Anuvu for airlines, MCF for Ex-Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, Spentzos for Greece, ADS for Hungary, Lev for Israel, Lusomundo for Portugal, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Sun Africa Group/MultiChoice for South Africa, Filmcoopi for Switzerland, and Bir Film for Turkey. It will be released in the U.S. in 2027 by LD Entertainment.
“Everybody Wants to F*Ck Me”
ACME for the Baltics, Prorom for Eastern Europe, Blitz for Ex-Yugoslavia, Myndform for Iceland, Lionsgate for India, Lev for Israel, Imagem for Latin America, Mongol Films for Mongolia, Lusomundo for Portugal, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Sun Africa Group/MultiChoice for South Africa, KTH for South Korea, Filmcoopi for Switzerland, Catchplay for Taiwan, and Svoe Kino for Ukraine.
“Ink”
Echolake for airlines, Cinelibri for Bulgaria, VVS for Canada, AQS for Czech Republic and Slovakia, Karantanja for Ex-Yugoslavia, Spentzos for Greece, Cinetel for Hungary, Myndform for Iceland, MVP for India, Shoval for Israel, Mongol Films for Mongolia, Lusomundo for Portugal, Independenta for Romania, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Sun Africa Group/MultiChoice for South Africa, NK Content for South Korea, Wanda for Spain, Ascot Elite for Switzerland, Fabula Films for Turkey, and UFD for Ukraine.
“Les Miserables”
Skeye for airlines, ACME for the Baltics, Cinelibri for Bulgaria, TVA for Canada, AQS for Czech Republic and Slovakia, Karantanja for Ex-Yugoslavia, Pathé Touch for French-speaking Africa, Spentzos for Greece, ADS for Hungary, Synapse for Latin America, GSC for Malaysia, Italia for the Middle East, Lusomundo for Portugal, Independenta for Romania, Shaw for Singapore, Scene & Sound for South Korea, Beta Fiction for Spain, DCM for Switzerland, Bir Film for Turkey, and Ad Astra for Ukraine.
“Words of Love”
Cineart for Benelux, Beta for Bulgaria, Immina for Canada, Pandora for Germany and Austria, Danaos for Greece, New Cinema for Israel, Teodora for Italy, Angel Films for Scandinavia, Atalante for Spain, Frenetic for Switzerland, and Mars for Turkey.
“Visitation”
Moving Story for Australia and New Zealand, Artifilm for Benelux, Beta for Bulgaria, Karantanija for Ex-Yugoslavia, Spentzos for Greece, Lev for Israel, Cetera for Japan, Alambique for Portugal, Scanbox for Scandinavia, A Contracorriente for Spain, and Filmcoopi for Switzerland.
“Violette”
Skeye for airlines, ACME for the Baltics, Cinelibri for Bulgaria, VVS for Canada, Blue Media for China, MCF for Ex-Yugoslavia, Spentzos for Greece, Vertigo for Hungary, Lev for Israel, Lucky Red for Italy, Lusomundo for Portugal, Bad Unicorn for Romania, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Shaw for Singapore, Beta Fiction for Spain, Frenetic for Switzerland, Bir for Turkey, and Arthouse for Ukraine.
“Another Day”
MCF for Ex-Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, Spentzos for Greece, Europictures for Italy, Scanbox for Scandinavia, Shaw for Singapore, Frenetic for Switzerland, Lusomundo for Portugal, and Mars for Turkey.
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Three men face potential charges after a 21-year-old woman died when rope-jumping instructors allegedly launched her from a bridge without attaching the safety ropes meant to stop her fall, authorities said.
Maria Eduarda Rodrigues de Freitas, a 21-year-old student, died Saturday during a rope-jumping event at an abandoned bridge about 90 miles northwest of São Paulo, Brazil.
Police investigator Andrea Levy told reporters Monday that the three instructors involved in the jump acknowledged that Rodrigues de Freitas was not connected to any safety equipment before she was launched from the bridge.
“They do not remember whether they forgot to attach [the ropes], or who was supposed to do it, or who failed to check. But the fact is the ropes were not attached to her,” Levy said.
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The Ponte do Esqueleto, or “Skeleton Bridge,” is located in São Paulo, Brazil. (Google Maps)
The three instructors were arrested following the incident and could face criminal charges, The Associated Press reported.
Brazilian authorities said the three instructors were arrested on suspicion of homicide with “eventual intent,” a legal concept under Brazilian law that generally applies when a person is deemed to have accepted the risk that a death could occur. According to Brazilian outlet G1, citing investigators, the instructors were booked on the charge at the scene.
Investigators said Rodrigues de Freitas requested to be launched from the bridge “airplane style,” with two instructors lifting her above their shoulders while she stretched out her arms.
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Video shared online appears to show two helmeted men tossing the young woman from the abandoned bridge moments before the fatal fall. The instructors appear to be wearing harnesses connected to safety lines.
Authorities said Rodrigues de Freitas fell approximately 130 feet.
Bungee jumping elastic is pictured here. (Giovanni Mereghetti/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Brazilian media reported that Rodrigues de Freitas had purchased a guided hiking excursion that included the rope jump from the abandoned bridge.
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Rope jumping is an extreme sport that differs from traditional bungee jumping. Instead of elastic cords that create a vertical bounce, rope jumping uses low-stretch climbing ropes designed to transform a fall into a pendulum-like swing.
The City of Limeira identified Rodrigues de Freitas as a resident of Jandira and issued a statement expressing condolences to her family.
“At this moment of pain, the City of Limeira stands in solidarity with the young woman’s family, friends and loved ones,” municipal officials said in a statement Saturday.
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The city said it would cooperate with authorities investigating the incident.
Rodrigues de Freitas was buried Sunday.
Local police are investigating the incident as a homicide. (Facebook/@Comsoc Limeira)
Levy told Brazilian television program “Jornal Nacional” that investigators were examining whether the group conducting the jump was authorized to operate at the site. According to G1, Levy said investigators believe a failure to verify the placement of the safety rope contributed to the fatality.
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In a statement cited by G1, attorneys for the three instructors said their clients had experience conducting the activity and that the incident was the first fatality during their years of operation.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the apparent safety failure, including who was responsible for ensuring participants were properly secured before jumping.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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