Social media platform X has caused outrage over a new location feature that allows users to see countries or regions where accounts are based.
It is the latest of many controversies since Elon Musk took over the platform formerly known as Twitter.
On Saturday, X’s head of product development Nikita Bier announced that the platform would be introducing the location feature.
“This is an important first step to securing the integrity of the global town square,” Mr Bier said in a post. “We plan to provide many more ways for users to verify the authenticity of the content they see."
In theory, with a few clicks or taps, you would be able to see approximate locations from which users were posting but when the feature went live, it caused widespread anger.
The location labels seemed to confirm that several accounts known for posts praising President Donald Trump were actually based outside the US, fuelling concerns over foreign figures trying to influence American politics.
In other instances, some X account users were perplexed by their own locations. As controversy mounted, X’s development team sought to calm the waters.
“There are a few rough edges that will be resolved,” Mr Bier posted on X. He said that older accounts were facing problems with location, blaming bad data as a result.
Mr Bier did not disclose exactly what metrics were used to determine account locations.
Technology analysts say the many factors such that complicate the task of location tracking, including Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which preserve anonymity and often show false locations.
In a post on the Threads social platform, Olga Belogolova, director of the emerging technology initiative at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, said incorrect location labels on X could be the result of several factors.
“As tempting as it is to dunk on the ‘United States’ accounts posting from unexpected places, I would caution folks not to jump to conclusions,” said Ms Belogolova, who previously worked as threat intelligence analyst at Meta and identified influence operations.
“It is a mix of VPNs, travellers, false positives and yes, some bad actors, but an IP address alone is not proof of a foreign influence operation.”
There was at least one positive review, however.
Nikki Haley, who was Mr Trump’s UN ambassador and challenged him for the Republican endorsement last year, said that she liked X’s approach.
“I have long said foreign actors are using social media to poison our politics and divide Americans,” Ms Haley posted, calling the company’s approach “a huge win” and urging other social platforms to do the same.
X provided a disclaimer while it continues to fine-tune the feature.
“The country or region that an account is based can be impacted by recent travel or temporary relocation,” it reads. “This data may not be accurate.”
The current wrangling harkens back to a popular cartoon that appeared in The New Yorker magazine as the internet was beginning to explode on the scene.
It shows a dog on an office chair using a computer desk, speaking to another canine.
“On the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog,” the cartoon’s caption read.
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Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
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Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
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Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
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The years Ramadan fell in May
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Manchester United 2 (Martial 30', Lingard 69')
Arsenal 2 (Mustafi 26', Rojo 68' OG)
HOW TO WATCH
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Greatest Royal Rumble results
John Cena pinned Triple H in a singles match
Cedric Alexander retained the WWE Cruiserweight title against Kalisto
Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt win the Raw Tag Team titles against Cesaro and Sheamus
Jeff Hardy retained the United States title against Jinder Mahal
Bludgeon Brothers retain the SmackDown Tag Team titles against the Usos
Seth Rollins retains the Intercontinental title against The Miz, Finn Balor and Samoa Joe
AJ Styles remains WWE World Heavyweight champion after he and Shinsuke Nakamura are both counted out
The Undertaker beats Rusev in a casket match
Brock Lesnar retains the WWE Universal title against Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Braun Strowman won the 50-man Royal Rumble by eliminating Big Cass last
Rocketman
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Starring: Taron Egerton, Richard Madden, Jamie Bell
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
