A new transparency update on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has triggered a major political controversy in India. The feature, which publicly displays the location of user accounts, has exposed that several politically active handles—especially those critical of the Indian government—are operating from outside the country.

The situation escalated when multiple accounts believed to represent Congress supporters were shown as being based in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ireland and the United States. For instance, the official account of Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera appeared as “based in the United States”, while the Maharashtra Congress handle showed “based in Ireland”, according to an India Today review. Several anti-government voices displayed their origin as “South Asia” without specifying a country.

However, India Today also clarified that it could not independently verify the accuracy of X’s location data for every account.

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BJP Uses Feature as Political Leverage

The development has provided significant ammunition to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused the Congress ecosystem of operating a coordinated global network to influence public opinion in India.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya claimed that many pro-Congress and anti-Hindu accounts were being controlled from Pakistan, Bangladesh and other foreign territories.

According to Malviya:

“A large number of pro-Congress, anti-Hindu, and divisive caste-based handles are not even operating from India. Many are being run from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and other parts of Asia and the world.”

He further described the pattern as a “coordinated global operation” designed to manipulate India’s social discourse and deepen internal divisions.

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How the Feature Works

X introduced the feature as part of its effort to increase transparency on a platform frequently accused of hosting misinformation and anonymous propaganda networks. Users can now see:

• the country where an account is based
• how many times the username has been changed
• the location from where the X app was downloaded

The feature appears in the “About This Account” section and is visible to all users.

BJP leaders argue that the data reinforces their long-standing claims that several social media campaigns—such as those against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the now-repealed farm laws—were amplified by accounts operated from abroad.

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Political Analysts Respond

Political commentator and BJP leader Priti Gandhi compared the current revelations to earlier protest movements, alleging that many handles involved in spreading communal narratives and edited videos during the anti-CAA protests, the farmers’ agitation, and the 2020 Delhi riots were also foreign-based.

She questioned:

“When party-verified accounts themselves start showing foreign login footprints, it raises a far bigger question. Who exactly is shaping Congress’s digital messaging?”

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Suspicious Accounts: The Case of ‘Diya’ and ‘Yashita’

One of the most discussed examples involves the accounts named ‘Diya Sharma’ and ‘Yashita Nagpal’, both reportedly showing locations in Pakistan. Their posts frequently criticized the ruling party and government policies.

While the ‘Diya Sharma’ account has since been suspended, ‘Yashita Nagpal’, who claims to be a journalist, admitted in a post that she had worked for multiple political parties in India.

“I was hired not just by Congress, but other political parties in India as well to be apart of their campaign,” she wrote, adding that she changed the location settings in time.

Amit Malviya later alleged that many newly popular Congress-supporting accounts were actually operated from Pakistan or Bangladesh, describing them as either ISI-linked groups or individuals pushing anti-India narratives.

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Global Impact: U.S. Faces Similar Outrage

The feature has not only affected Indian politics. In the United States, several influential pro-Donald Trump accounts were discovered to be operating from outside U.S. territory.

For example:

• 
  ‘MAGA NATION’, with nearly 400,000 followers, was found to be based in Eastern Europe
• ‘TRUMP_ARMY’, previously cited by the U.S. President, was identified as operating from India

According to a BBC report, the account has now rebranded itself as “an Indian who loves America, President Trump, Musk”.

Multiple accounts supporting political narratives in the U.S. have similarly been traced to Africa, Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

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Accuracy Concerns and VPN Issues

Following widespread scrutiny, many users questioned whether the location information was reliable. In response, X’s head of product Nikita Bier stated that the data was “99% accurate”.

However, he acknowledged that the use of VPNs and temporary travel could affect the displayed location. X has since added a disclaimer noting that location data “may not be accurate” and can change periodically.

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Bigger Questions Ahead

The controversy has raised several key concerns:

• Are foreign actors influencing India’s political conversations?
• How reliable is X’s location detection?
• Could this feature be weaponized for political attacks?

What remains undeniable is that the feature has added a new dimension to India’s already heated digital political landscape, and debates over authenticity, influence operations, and online propaganda are likely to intensify.

Philanthropist and novelist MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Jeff Bezos, has once again made headlines with a monumental act of giving. On November 3, 2025, Scott donated $80 million to Howard University, one of the United States’ most prestigious historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Howard University confirmed the gift on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “one of the single largest contributions in the university’s history.” The institution expressed deep gratitude, adding that this historic investment would “strengthen student aid, support infrastructure improvements, advance research and health sciences, and sustain our mission of truth and service for generations to come.”

Howard University has received a transformative $80 million unrestricted gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott … one of the single largest contributions in the University’s history.

This historic investment will strengthen student aid, support infrastructure improvements,… pic.twitter.com/GRa8AAgK5J

— Howard University (@HowardU) November 3, 2025

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Howard University’s plans for the donation

According to USA Today, a significant portion of the $80 million will go to the Howard College of Medicine, including $17 million earmarked for the construction of a new academic medical center. The remainder of the funds will bolster student financial aid, campus renovations, and the creation of a reserve fund to safeguard the university against future financial challenges.

University officials said the gift comes at a crucial time, as recent federal funding adjustments have made it more difficult for many students to afford higher education. “This donation ensures that talented, financially challenged students continue to have access to Howard’s world-class education,” the university noted.

MacKenzie Scott’s philanthropic journey

Since her 2019 divorce from Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott has emerged as one of the world’s most generous philanthropists. Through her firm Yield Giving, she has distributed billions to charitable causes, focusing on education, racial equity, and community development.

Scott has now donated over $132 million to Howard University since 2020 alone, according to The Dig, the university’s official news platform. Her earlier gift in 2020 of $40 million also set records at the time.

Beyond Howard, Scott’s donations have transformed numerous educational institutions and nonprofits across the United States, often providing unrestricted grants that empower organizations to decide how best to use the funds.

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University has long stood as a beacon of Black excellence in higher education. Recognized by Forbes as the nation’s top HBCU and by U.S. News & World Report for its stellar programs in business, computer science, law, and medicine, Howard continues to shape generations of leaders.

With Scott’s latest contribution, the university aims to expand its impact even further — strengthening its infrastructure, advancing health sciences research, and ensuring its students continue to thrive.

On October 10, 2025, the Norwegian Nobel Committee announced that María Corina Machado of Venezuela is the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Jørgen Watne Frydnes, chair of the Committee, praised her courage under duress:

“In the past year, Ms Machado has been forced to live in hiding. Despite serious threats against her life she has remained in the country … She has brought her country’s opposition together … She has been steadfast in her support for a peaceful transition to democracy.”

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Who Is María Corina Machado?

Born on October 7, 1967, in Caracas, Venezuela, María Corina Machado Parisca is an engineer-turned politician and a leading figure in Venezuela’s opposition movement. She co-founded the electoral watchdog organization Súmate and later became a prominent voice in the Unitary Platform and Vente Venezuela parties.

From 2011 to 2014, Machado served as a member of the National Assembly, representing Miranda state. Over the years, she has been disqualified from holding office by governmental bodies but continued her activism outside formal political roles.

Her activism has already been internationally recognized: she shared the Sakharov Prize (2024) and the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize (2024) before being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

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Why She Was Chosen This Year

The Nobel Committee’s citation highlights Morales Machado’s ability to unify fragmented opposition forces in Venezuela, maintain resilience under serious personal threat, and consistently advocate for a nonviolent transition in a highly militarised society.

Her decision to remain within Venezuela despite threats and official attempts to silence her served as a powerful symbol to Venezuelans and observers worldwide.

The 2025 prize also comes in the context of 338 nominations (244 individuals, 94 organizations) — a record-high pool reflecting growing global attention to peace and democracy struggles.

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Global Reactions & Rival Ambitions

News of Machado’s win swiftly resonated across media outlets. The Associated Press underscored that her award represented acknowledgment of the Venezuelan opposition’s courage under suppression. The Guardian described her as “a brave and committed champion of peace.”

Notably, this year’s decision also overshadowed the high-profile efforts by Donald J. Trump to campaign for the Prize. Despite Trump publicly promoting his peace deals and claiming that he “solved eight wars,” the Nobel Committee stuck with Machado’s candidacy — dashing Trump’s ambitions for the award.

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Nobel Prize Process & Legacy

The Nobel Peace Prize remains the only Nobel awarded in Oslo, Norway, overseen by a five-member Norwegian Nobel Committee. Decisions are reached by striving for consensus, or if needed, by majority vote.

The award comes with a cash prize of 11 million Swedish kronor and will be formally presented on December 10, 2025 in Oslo.

Alfred Nobel’s 1895 will established that his estate be used to honour individuals who had “conferred the greatest benefit on mankind,” with a special emphasis on peace, disarmament, and international cooperation.

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What This Means for Venezuela and Beyond

Machado’s Nobel is far more than a personal honor — it is a beacon of hope for Venezuelans enduring political, economic, and humanitarian crisis. It draws international focus to Venezuela’s ongoing struggle under Nicolás Maduro’s authoritarian regime, which has cracked down harshly on opposition, curtailed elections, and suppressed dissent.

By recognizing a domestic opposition leader who refused exile or silence, the Nobel Committee sends a strong message globally: that democracy, even in dark times, deserves protection and endorsement.